Fourth straight setback for Rangers

Loss to Flint Firebirds leaves OHL club just two points up on Sarnia Sting

It was a weekend to forget for the Kitchener Rangers.

The Blueshirts were outscored 11-4 in a pair of losses and are now in danger of falling to seventh overall in the Ontario Hockey League’s Western Conference.

The club was pounded 6-2 by an injury-ravaged Windsor Spitfires team Friday at the Aud, and followed that up with a flat performance and a 5-2 loss to the Flint Firebirds at the Dort Federal Event Center on Saturday.

And now the sixth place Rangers, who were once eyeing a chance at home-ice advantage in the playoffs, are just two points up on the seventh seeded Sarnia Sting in the ultra competitive West.

Flint got to Kitchener fast on Saturday. Forward Kole Sherwood scored his 26th of the season on Rangers netminder Luke Opilka, just 57 seconds into the game.

Teammate Nicholas Caamano added a pair before the period was done to help minimize the impact of Adam Mascherin’s power play goal and his team-high 31st marker.

The Rangers answered a sevenshot first period by firing 15 shots in the second.

However, they couldn’t solve Flint goalie Garrett Forrest.

The Firebirds added on in the third off the blades of Maurizio Colella and Jake Durham as the team won its third in a row.

Kitchener’s Connor Bunnaman picked up his 27th goal of the season in the third period to round out the scoring for the visitors.

The Rangers (27-20-2-2) have now dropped their past four tilts, which ties a season-high losing streak.

The eighth place Firebirds

were once well in Kitchener’s rear-view mirror, but now trail the Rangers by only six points in the Western Conference standings.

Opilka has been slumping of late and has allowed five goals in each of his past four starts.

During that time, the Rangers have been outscored 22-7.

The team will look to get back on track Tuesday when it faces the Niagara IceDogs (17-26-5-3) at the Meridian Centre at 7 p.m.