Short-handed supremacy

Rangers are near perfect on the penalty kill since the trade deadline came and went

KITCHENER — The Kitchener Rangers are standing tall while short-handed.

The Blueshirts are near perfect while down a man and have allowed one lonely power play goal in 32 chances over nine games since the Ontario Hockey League’s trade deadline on Jan. 10.

The run has the Rangers second in the OHL with an overall penalty killing rating of 84.6 per cent behind leaders the Sarnia Sting (87.8 per cent).

“First off it’s the guys on the ice executing,” said Kitchener bench boss Jay McKee.

“We have guys that take pride in it (penalty killing) and care. They pay attention in meetings. We’re getting goaltending as well. Your goaltender has to be your top penalty killer.” The numbers are impressive. The Rangers have killed off 28 consecutive power plays and have not allowed a power-play goal in their past seven games.

The team has been operating at a 97 per cent clip since the trade deadline which is up substantially from the 82 per cent rating for the rest of the season.

Even more impressive is that the club has improved its numbers after trading forwards Jake Henderson and Cole Carter, who were two of the team’s primary penalty killers.

McKee says it’s all about the personnel.

“You can see the mindset of guys that really care,” he said. “I think we have those guys on our team. You can tell that when we get scored on, on the penalty kill, that they take it personally.

“That’s what I like to see as a coach. I know that guys that I’m putting over the boards really want to get that job done. They aren’t just out there to eat up some extra time on the ice.”

For the most part that includes forwards Nick McHugh, Riley Damiani, Givani Smith and Eric Guest and defencemen Logan Stanley, Connor Hall and Austin McEneny with the final rearguard spot being a rotation of players.

“It’s a huge role and responsibility,” said McHugh. “To be put out on the penalty kill, especially on this team, is a honour and it just makes me want to work harder to keep my spot out there.”

Added Damiani: “It’s a lot of trust from the coach for sure. It’s really good to know that the coaching staff and even the guys on the bench trust you. It really lifts you and it’s a huge confidence builder.”

There is more to Kitchener’s approach to penalty killing than passion. The team uses a diamond formation instead of a box and focuses on reacting to a series of trigger points delivered by foes.

“We do things a little bit different,” said McKee, who runs the PK. “I think a lot of teams when they go up against our neutral and defensive zone get something that they don’t see every night. I think that adds a little confusion and frustration to the opposition.”

The penalty killing units will certainly be put to the test Friday when the Rangers host the red hot Hamilton Bulldogs, who own the fourth best power play in the league (heading into Thursday’s action).

“We’re just really clicking right now,” said McHugh. “Everyone is doing the right things and we have a good system in place. We all trust each other and that’s a huge deal on the penalty kill.”

Spoiling a power play also has a trickle-down effect.

“As a PK unit we like to bring momentum to the rest of the team,” said Damiani. “Right now we’re doing that and we want to keep it going.”