OHL Kitchener Rangers

Generals Blank Rangers at the GMC

Published on February 27, 2016 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Kitchener Rangers Take on the Oshawa Generals
Kitchener Rangers Take on the Oshawa Generals
(Kitchener Rangers)

Things couldn't have gone more differently than the last time these two teams met.

Alexandre Renaud scored twice and the Oshawa Generals exploded with a four-goal second period as they defeated the Kitchener Rangers 5-0 in front of 5,856 fans at the General Motors Centre on Saturday afternoon.

The win for the Generals (22-30-4-4) flips the script from the last time these two teams saw one another - a 5-0 win for the Rangers (40-13-5-1) back at the Aud on February 19th.

Today marks the first time the Rangers have been shut out this season.

The Rangers had plenty of opportunity to get on the board, as they were awarded six power plays on the afternoon. The Generals were unsuccessful in their three chances with the man advantage.

It was an ever-so-important two points for the Generals, who leapfrogged the Hamilton Bulldogs and reclaimed the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bulldogs host the North Bay Battalion tonight at 7pm.

The London Knights were in action earlier on Saturday and came away with a convincing 5-1 win over the Ottawa 67's, so the Knights now lead the Rangers by three points in the Western Conference standings. The Erie Otters are also in action on Saturday as they meet the Saginaw Spirit for a 7pm puck drop in Erie.

Jeremy Brodeur's shutout was his sixth of the season, and improved his record to 20-20-3-2 as he stopped 36 Rangers shots strewn his way.

After a scoreless first period, Alexandre Renaud got the Generals on the board with his 11th of the season, from Jack Studnicka and Mitch Vande Sompel, at 5:24 of the second period.

Oshawa captain Anthony Cirelli gave the Generals a 2-0 lead, from Eric Henderson and Kenny Huether, at 8:18, then Henderson answered with a goal of his own just 1:13 later to make it 3-0, assisted by Riley Stillman and Huether at 9:31.

The Generals third goal of the game would signal the end of the afternoon for Rangers starter Dawson Carty, who surrendered three goals on 17 shots. Luke Opilka would come off the bench and finish the game allowing one goal on eleven shots.

Renaud's second of the game came at 13:02, from Domenic Commisso and Vande Sompel, to round out the four-goal second period for the hosts. Shots were 12-9 Oshawa after the first, and 23-21 after two periods of play.

Kitchener head coach Mike Van Ryn elected to pull Opilka from the Rangers crease with just under six minutes remaining in the game in an effort to help generate some offence for his club. The bid fell through before the Rangers had managed to muster up much of an attack, as Huether scored his 25th of the season into the empty net at 14:31 which would solidify the 5-0 win.

Final shots were 36-29 Kitchener.

"We didn't get to the net," said Van Ryn. "And when we did, there were no second or third chances. Bottom line, we got outplayed by some of their best players. We needed to rise to the occasion and we weren't sharp.

"We couldn't get anything going, and we were spinning our wheels all game. It's unfortunate."

Cirelli (3), Stillman (2) and Brodeur (1) were chosen as the Three Stars of the Game.

Darby Llewellyn, Gustaf Franzen and Brandon Robinson each wore 'A's and skated as alternates to captain Ryan MacInnis.

The Rangers return to the Aud for their next game, Friday, March 4th, when they host the Erie Otters for a 7:30pm puck drop.

Tickets for the Rangers next home game, or any other future Rangers home games are available online at kitchenerrangers.com, by calling Centre in the Square, or through The Aud Box Office.

2nd - OSH Alexandre Renaud (11) (Jack Studnicka, Mitchell Vande Sompel), 5:24

2nd - OSH Anthony Cirelli (19) (Eric Henderson, Kenny Huether), 8:18

2nd - OSH Eric Henderson (4) (Riley Stillman, Kenny Huether), 9:31

2nd - OSH Alexandre Renaud (12) (Domenic Commisso, Mitchell Vande Sompel), 13:02

3rd - OSH Kenny Huether (25) , 14:31 (EN)

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Kitchener Rangers Take on the Oshawa Generals
Kitchener Rangers Take on the Oshawa Generals
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2016


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