Rangers are in a good place
As the holiday break begins, Kitchener is second in Western Conference
KITCHENER — It looked like an eye fake.
Kitchener Rangers defenceman Joseph Garreffa had the puck just inside the blue line and peered at teammate Connor Bunnaman standing at the side of the crease before firing a slap shot Sunday afternoon.
The apparent glance fooled Kingston goalie Jeremy Helvig.
The veteran shifted to his right in anticipation of the pass only to watch the puck squeak between his legs for the eventual game winner in Kitchener’s 3-2 Ontario Hockey League victory at the Aud.
As it turned out, Garreffa’s first marker in 24 games was more luck than strategy.
“You know when you’re breaking that slump, the worst goals go in,” said the Toronto native. “I was trying to go backdoor to Bunnaman and it goes off a defenceman and goes five-hole. But I’ll take it.” And so will the Rangers. Kitchener looked tired Sunday in the final game before a 10-day break for the holiday season.
The back end was especially fatigued and for good reason. Injuries to Logan Stanley (lower body) and Connor Hall (shoulder) had the Blueshirts skating without its top two rearguards. In their absence Garreffa, a converted forward, and sophomore Giovanni Vallati each logged 29 minutes of ice time.
“If you look at our back end, we had five defencemen that have less than 100 games played and one defenceman who is a forward,” said Rangers head coach Jay McKee. “We had a youthful group in a sense of experience. I think our guys are all excelling with the added ice time.”
After a scoreless first period, the teams traded goals Sunday for a 2-2 tie early in the third. McKee called a timeout just before a late-period power play to rest his tired troops and the move paid off when Garreffa’s blast capped the win.
Luke Richardson was strong in net for the second consecutive game for the Rangers and, this time, was rewarded with the win after taking a tough loss Friday in the team’s 4-3 decision against the Soo.
Adam Mascherin had a goal and two assists to extend his league-high goal-scoring streak to nine games, while Kole Sherwood also scored.
Jason Roberton potted a pair for the Frontenacs and now has 20 goals on the season.
Kitchener has won six of its past eight games as it hits the
halfway mark of the 68-game schedule. The club boasts a record of 21-11-2-0, which is one win and two points better than this time last season.
“We’re in a good spot,” said McKee, whose team is second in the OHL’s Western Conference. “I like a lot of the games we’ve played. There are not many guys that I’m really disappointed with.”
The skipper lauded his young defence and Richardson who, at 18, is “holding his own” in a league that typically rewards goalies that are a year or two older. He also likes his forward group but would like to see more consistency. “Sometimes they’re on and off and the older guys need to lead the way,” he said.
“I think we have more … and we’re looking for a better second half.”
Stanley is expected to return after Christmas, with Hall following shortly after.
Kitchener blueliner Alex Peterson stepped in to take Stanley’s place Sunday.
It was the Kenora native’s first game since Nov. 18 and just his fifth all season.
The Rangers return to action Dec. 28 when they head to Owen Sound to face the Attack.