OHL Kitchener Rangers

Game Day Preview: Rangers & Spirit Face-Off Friday in Kitchener

Published on March 16, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Kitchener, Ont - The Kitchener Rangers are back on home-ice Friday night when the club hosts the Saginaw Spirit in a St. Patrick's Day tilt. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. and great seats are available here.

Tickets: Buy Online | (519) 578-1570

TV: Rogers TV, cable 20 (Kitchener)

TV: Super Sports Pack, cable 470 (Ontario)

Video Stream: OHLLive.com | CHL App

Radio: CityNews 570 AM CKGL

Head-to-Head:

Kitchener and Saginaw have faced off three times already this season. Twice in Saginaw and once at The Aud back in November. Kitchener is 2-1-0-0 against the Spirit this season splitting the games in Saginaw and winning 1-0 on home ice. The Rangers are 12-6-1-0 over the past five seasons against Saginaw and 7-1-1-0 on home ice.

Kitchener have lost their last two games coming off the end of a three-game set in three days. However, it was not a bad weekend for the Rangers as they clinched a playoff spot and have earned a playoff appearance in each of the last seven seasons. Kitchener are 6-3-1-0 in their last ten games as they sit in the eighth seed in the Western Conference on 64 points.

Saginaw have earned at least a point in each of their last six games to go 4-0-1-1 in that stretch. The Spirit are also 5-3-1-1 in their last ten games. Saginaw now sits in the fourth seed in the Western Conference on 73 points. They are four points up on the fifth-seed Firebirds with five games remaining on their schedule.

Kitchener will have to be weary of giving too many power-play opportunities to the Spirit as they own the league's second-best power-play percentage on the road at 25.5%.

Scouting the Rangers:

Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) leads the way for all roster players on the Rangers in points this season with 84 points (37G 47A) in 55 games this season. Pinelli has points in his last four games scoring two goals and providing four assists.

Hunter Brzustewicz leads the Rangers on defence this year with 54 points (6G 48A) in 62 games this season. Brzustewicz has suited up in every game for the Rangers this season. He also has points in six-straight games with one goal and seven helpers.

Another trio of Rangers have been consistently on the scoresheet as of late. Francesco Arcuri (Dallas Stars) with the longest active streak at nine games. Arcuri has eight goals and seven assists for 15 points. Matthew Sop on a seven-game streak with six goals, three assists, and 10 points. Filip Mešár (Montréal Canadiens) is the third with points in three-straight. One goal and four assists for five points for Mešár.

Marco Costantini earned a loss for the first time in six starts Sunday afternoon. Costantini is approaching the most appearances in a single season as he has played in 43 games this season. 45 was the most he set in a season a year ago for Hamilton. Costantini has played to a 22-17-3-0 record this season and posted one of his three shutouts of the season against the Spirit earlier in the year in a 1-0 Kitchener victory.

Francesco Arcuri (Dallas Stars), Tomáš Hamara (Ottawa Senators), Filip Mešár (Montréal Canadiens), Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings), Roman Schmidt (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Danny Zhilkin (Winnipeg Jets) are six Kitchener skaters that are both drafted, and signed, by their NHL clubs respectively.

Scouting the Spirit:

Dean Loukus is the leading points getter on the Spirit roster. The right winger has 17 goals and 39 assists for 56 points in 62 games this season. Loukus also has the longest active point streak with six points (2G 4A) in four games.

Mitchell Smith leads the Spirit in points this season after the team traded away Pavel Mintyukov (Anaheim Ducks) before the trade deadline. Smith has 47 points (13G 34A) in 63 games and is coming off a hattrick in their last game Wednesday night against Windsor.

Michael Misa was granted exceptional status becoming the sixth ever OHL player to be granted that honour. The just turned 16-year-old forward leads all rookies this season in points with 51 points (21G 30A) in 41 games. Although he leads by just two points, Misa has played in less games and has the best points per game percentage by a significant margin. Misa is producing at a 1.24 PPG clip, while the next closest rookie is at 0.88 PPG (Beckett Sennecke).

Tristan Lennox (New York Islanders) has suited up in 45 games for the Spirit this season. The New York Islander prospect signed an entry-level deal with the NHL Club earlier this year. Lennox has the sixth best goal against average of any starting goaltender in the OHL this season at 3.15. Lennox has a 25-15-2-2 record this season.

Hunter Haight (Minnesota Wild), Tristan Lennox (New York Islanders), and Matyas Sapovaliv (Vegas Golden Knights) are the three Saginaw skaters that are drafted by their NHL clubs respectively.

Broadcast Coverage:

Friday night's contest against Saginawwill be televised live throughout Kitchener and the Waterloo Region on Rogers TV, cable channel 20. In addition, the contest can be watched across the province of Ontario on the Super Sports Pack on channel 470 for cable subscribers. Jason Hagholm (play-by-play), Dan Polischuk (colour commentary) and Sean Furfaro (host) will call the game on television.

The game will be streamed live online in a web browser at OHLLive.com, and on the CHL App for mobile devices, including smart TV's such as including Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire.

Additionally, fans can listen to the game on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL. Mike Farwell (play-by-play) and Chris Pope (colour commentary) will call the game on the radio. Fans can tune in to the radio pregame show 30 minutes prior to puck drop and can be a part of the broadcast with extended postgame shows as Farwell takes phone calls from Rangers Nation after all home games at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. Fans can call 519-570-2545 during the radio postgame shows to talk Rangers Hockey.

Next Up:

The Rangers have another packed weekend playing both Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Kitchener will travel to Owen Sound for the final time Saturday, and the Rangers are back at The Aud Sunday afternoon against Kingston.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 16, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central