It was a snowy afternoon on East Avenue because the Kitchener Rangers took on the Kingston Frontenacs for the primary time this season on the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, a becoming place to commemorate such a significant day for thus many individuals.
In honour of Remembrance Day, each groups suited up in particular jerseys. The Frontenacs of their navy camo inexperienced, and the Rangers, debuting an superior new gray uniform that had a lot thought behind each element.
Recreation Recap
Early within the first interval, the Frontenacs got here out pressuring early and would open the scoring on their sixth shot, practically six minutes into the sport, on Tyler Hopkins’ seventh aim of the season, when the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect banged a rebound previous Jason Schaubel after a flurry of probabilities.
By way of the early portion of the primary interval, the Rangers have been struggling to attach on passes by way of the impartial zone. Nonetheless, they lastly broke unfastened on an odd-man rush with lower than three minutes remaining within the interval. Matheas Stark made a ravishing cross-crease cross to Alexander Bilecki for his third aim of the season.
Regardless of the Rangers’ reply, they fell behind once more virtually instantly as they left Jacob Battaliga, a Calgary Flames first-round choose, on their lonesome in entrance of Schaubel, which gave the Frontenacs a 2-1 lead 15 seconds later, which they carried into the primary intermission.
After the break, the Frontenacs got here out and prolonged their result in two as Matthew Frost scored his second of the season slightly below three minutes into the interval, which was the lone aim of the second body.
The Rangers lastly clawed again inside one with slightly below a minute to play, when Luas Ellinas obtained credit score for a aim the place it regarded like he completely fed Cameron Arquette for a deflection. Nonetheless, their reply was too little, too late because the Frontenacs closed out the victory, snapping their six-game dropping streak and getting their first win on the Aud since 2018.
Rangers Have a Uncommon Poor Defensive Efficiency
Whereas the Rangers generated loads of high quality probabilities offensively, they didn’t are available in a typical vogue, the place their sturdy defence led to offence. For many of the afternoon, the Rangers weren’t targeted defensively, overcommitting on the forecheck, dropping observe of gamers behind them, and getting caught flat-footed in transition.
Following the sport, head coach Jussi Ahokas mentioned, “We didn’t win battles, too many turnovers, and we gave up too many odd-man rushes,” when requested about his crew’s efficiency by Josh Piercey of 570 Information.
It solely took the Frontenacs 23 minutes to attain extra objectives in opposition to the Rangers than that they had of their earlier three video games. This isn’t a difficulty the Rangers have had persistently this season; actually, the other has been true, as they entered play with the fewest objectives allowed within the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and had allowed solely three objectives of their final 4 video games.
Whereas the defensive construction hasn’t been a difficulty for the Rangers this season, the turnovers have at instances. Too usually, they get caught up in attempting to make one thing occur each time they’ve the puck.
Many instances all through this sport, the Rangers turned pucks over on one too many passes or on pressured passes into visitors that led to an odd-man rush the opposite manner. Typically, as an alternative of in search of the right play, they should dwell to combat one other day, whether or not that be dumping a puck in and forechecking or firing a puck on web from distance to get an offensive zone draw.
With the expertise this crew has, they may get their scoring probabilities in each sport they play. However once they have struggled this season, it’s actually because they’ve difficult the sport and made it onerous for themselves to defend in opposition to the transition probabilities they provide up off turnovers. Once they’ve succeeded, they’ve moved the puck rapidly, smothered groups, after which let their expertise take over.
Rangers Run Right into a Sizzling Goalie
Matthew Minchak was on fireplace within the Frontenacs’ web on Sunday afternoon. He made numerous sprawling saves and was dialed in on every thing else, saving 31 of the 33 photographs the Rangers threw at him.
Following the sport, head coach Ahokas mentioned, “We had loads of probabilities to attain extra,” then added that “their goalie performed a terrific sport, I’ve to say that.” Put up-game, Alexander Bilecki additionally chimed in on the opposition goaltending, saying, “their goalie stood on his head.”
Many might not be acquainted with Minchak, as that is his first season within the OHL. However the 6-foot-5, 18-year-old was just lately named within the NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary rating for the 2026 NHL Draft. They’ve graded him as a late-round choose, however after what I watched on this sport, I may see that altering, particularly contemplating he sits with a .935 save share by way of eight video games after Sunday’s victory.
Lucas Ellinas Will get First Level of the Season
Lucas Ellinas returned to the lineup for the Rangers on Friday evening in opposition to the Saginaw Spirit. After a number of high quality scoring probabilities all through each video games since returning, he lastly broke by way of late within the third in opposition to the Frontenacs.
Associated: 3 Takeaways From Kitchener Rangers’ 5-2 Victory Over Saginaw Spirit
To not take credit score away from Ellinas, however initially, it regarded like an unbelievable shot cross from the correct hash marks ramped off Cameron Arquette’s stick and over Minchak’s shoulder. Nonetheless, it seems the Frontenac defender obtained a bit of the puck earlier than it hit Arquette’s stick.
Regardless, the puck was ending up behind the online, whether or not it was the defenseman’s or Arquette’s stick; it was certainly one of many high quality probabilities he created on the evening, ending with six photographs on web.
Ellinas scored 20 objectives for this crew final season. With the probabilities he’s creating within the first couple of video games since returning, he may very well be the Rangers’ lacking piece offensively as soon as he totally will get up to the mark.
Matthew Hlacar Driving Depth Offence
After the sport, coach Ahokas talked about that he thought his fourth line of Matthew Hlacar, Evan Headrick, and Avry Anstis performed effectively. In opposition to the Frontenacs, I believed that was primarily pushed by Hlacar, who began the sport through the use of his dimension and velocity to generate a partial break, taking the puck to the online, then later within the shift flattening a Frontenacs defender on the forecheck.
Later within the first interval, Hlacar made an outstanding cross from behind the Frontenacs’ aim line and located Tanner Lam on the far aspect of the online, who Minchak robbed.
Earlier this season, Hlacar made headlines after being suspended for six video games. His bodily aspect is well-known. Nonetheless, since returning, he has been offering a pleasant spark offensively, scoring two objectives within the Rangers’ final three video games.
Proper now, he’s on tempo for 13 objectives and 20 factors, which is sort of double his aim complete and greater than double his level complete from final season. Perhaps not eye-popping numbers, however that kind of manufacturing could be enormous on the fourth line with the physicality he brings.
Alexander Bilecki Credit Matheas Stark For the Opening Aim
After scoring the sport’s opening aim, Alexander Bilecki instantly pointed at Matheas Stark, who did the soiled work on the play. Postgame, he gave a terrific description of the aim, “That’s a terrific play by him, I simply kinda noticed a bouncing puck and jumped within the rush, I imply he was on their lonesome and made the unselfish play dishing it backdoor to me and I simply had a tap-in.”
Whereas Stark could have deserved a lot of the credit score for this aim, Bilecki has been getting higher and higher as this season has gone on. This was his third aim of the marketing campaign, and second in his final three video games for the Rangers, which brings his level complete as much as six.
He reads the ice and skates rather well, which permits him to reap the benefits of these probabilities to leap up within the rush. This offensive upside, mixed with somewhat little bit of dimension, is an intriguing talent set that’s certain to have lots of scouts’ consideration main as much as the 2026 NHL Draft.
What’s Subsequent for the Rangers?
The Rangers’ loss to the Frontenacs felt completely different than others this season. There have been lots of positives to remove from this sport, however total, it didn’t really feel like Ranger hockey with the shortage of defensive construction.
The Rangers will look to get again to enjoying their sport on Friday evening in opposition to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds after which will shut out the weekend in opposition to the Guelph Storm on Saturday.
