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OHL Kitchener Rangers

Preview: Rangers Face Generals in Oshawa Wednesday

February 28, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Oshawa, Ont. - The Rangers, who have points in six of their last eight games, face-off against the Oshawa Generals on the road for a mid-week matchup Wednesday night. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Tribute Communities Centre (capacity, 6,125).

Lleyton Moore returns to Tribute Communities Centre:

The Rangers acquired Generals' captain and overage defenceman Lleyton Moore from Oshawa on Dec. 13th, 2022. Across parts of four seasons with the Generals, Moore amassed 157 games played in the regular season totalling 109 points (15G 94A). Moore also made two playoff appearances on Oshawa including getting to a Eastern Conference final in 2019. Moore will return to the Tribute Communities Centre for the final time as a member of the Kitchener Rangers on Wednesday.

Head-to-Head:

Including the game earlier this season, Kitchener has a 2-5-1-0 record against the Generals over the past five season. The two teams have only faced each other eight times and only three in Oshawa. The Rangers are 1-2-0-0 over the past five seasons at the Tribute Communities Centre.

Kitchener shutout the Soo Greyhounds Sunday afternoon to widen the gap for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Kitchener are not five points out of the seventh spot with three games in hand on the Flint Firebirds. The Rangers are 4-4-2-0 in their last ten games.

Oshawa are coming off a big overtime victory at home to the OHL leading, Ottawa 67's. That victory gave them a three-point cushion for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Generals are 4-4-0-2 in their last ten games.

Scouting the Rangers:

Francesco Arcuri (Dallas Stars) is now one goal away from reaching the 40-goal mark. Arcuri recorded a goal and two assists Sunday afternoon to record his 39th goal of the season. Arcuri has never hit the 40-goal total with his career high of 34 goals coming last season in Kingston. He has 71 points in 58 games this season.

Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) continues to lead the Rangers offence with 73 points (34G 39A) in 48 games. Hunter Brzustewicz is the leader on the Rangers blueline with 46 points (5G 41A) in 55 games.

Marco Costantini has earned a victory in his last two starts and has started in three straight games for Kitchener. In his last start Costantini produced a 40-save shutout performance for his third of the season. That is tied for his likely counterpart on Wednesday, Jacob Oster, for second most in the OHL this season. Costantini has a 18-16-3-0 record this year with a 3.33 goals against average and 0.895 save percentage.

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 are six Kitchener skaters that are both drafted, and signed, by their NHL clubs respectively.

Scouting the Generals:

The early 2006 born forward, Beckett Sennecke, ranks second in OHL rookie scoring this season trailing only Michael Misa of the Saginaw Spirit. Sennecke has 47 points (15G 32A) in 52 games. His 32 assists are most by a rookie this season.

Ryan Gagnier leads the Generals roster in points with 63 points (27G 36A) in 55 games this season. Luca D'Amato leads the Generals blueline with 32 points (5G 27A) in 59 games.

Calum Ritchie is the hottest General skater entering play Wednesday night. Ritchie is averaging two points per game on a current three-game point streak. He has three goals and three assists.

The Rangers face former teammate, Joseph Serpa for the second time this season. Serpa had 104 points (35G 69A) in 146 games for Kitchener and 15 points in 12 playoff games. Serpa has 31 points (15G 16A) through 51 games this season.

Oshawa have no players currently drafted or signed by an NHL club but have multiple players eligible for the NHL Entry Draft. Four players eligible for the 2023 Draft (Ertel, Buckley, Ritchie, Gruber), six players eligible for the 2024 Draft (Graham, Sennecke, Toms, Marelli, Rodriguez, Danford), and one player eligible for the 2025 Draft (Bedkowski).

Broadcast Coverage:

Monday afternoon's contest will be televised live throughout Kitchener and the Waterloo Region on Rogers TV, cable channel 20 and can be watched across the province of Ontario on the Super Sports Pack on channel 466 for cable subscribers.

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. For more information on Kitchener Rangers broadcast coverage, click here.

Next Up:

The Rangers are back on home-ice this Friday against the Erie Otters at 7:30 p.m.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2023


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