Rangers Rap

The Bus, Rangers crash

Parker Van Buskirk sat in his dressing room stall and held his head in his hands.
His fingers got lost in his curly coif.
“I’m trying my best,” said the Kitchener Rangers goalie after last night’s 6-3 Ontario Hockey League loss to the Plymouth Whalers before 6,354 at the Aud. “Right now, it’s not good enough.”
Right now, the Rangers aren’t good enough to make the playoffs.

More in Saturday's Record . . .

Jake moves up

Lalonde on the top line tonight in place of MacKinnon.

So it's Lalonde-Jeff Skinner-Jason Akeson.

More bad news

No Chris MacKinnon (charley horse) tonight.
No Alex Dzielski (ankle) either.

Both were battered in last night's 5-2 loss in Windsor.

Andrew Wilson getst he call-up from the Dutchies to fill in on defence.
Micky Sartoretto is still out after hurting his back in practice on Thursday.

It's The Bus against Matt Hackett in goal.

Plymouth scratches are Christian Steingraber, Myles McCauley, Austin Levi, Jan Latal and Jordon O'Neill.

C-Mac is out

Chris MacKinnon took 2 steps on the ice prior to the second, then thought better of playing.

He departed for the dressing room. Looks like left leg. Maybe a charley horse.

Meanwhile, Taylor Hall and Rob Kwiet have scored. It's 4-1 Spits after two.

Alex Dzielski returned to play the second.

Beaten up early

The Spits pounded the Rangers in the first.

With 2:24 left, Jesse Blacker decimated Chris MacKinnon with a hit at the blueline.

MacKinnon scored on his trade-mark roof-job backhand in the 1st minute.

Then, 20 seconds after the Blacker hit, Justin Shugg belted Alex Dzielski in the corner.

Dzielski fell back on his left leg awkwardly. He hobbled off and didn't return.

Might be the same ankle he sprained in the Soo on Nov. 29.

MacKinnon sat on the Rangers bench for the rest of the period.

Eric Wellwood and Adam Henrique scored for Windsor. 2-1 Spits after one.

A Royal scratch

Shane Prince is among the Ranger scratches tonight.

Micky Sartoretto, Andrew Wilson and Mike Mascioli are the others.

As advertised, it's Engelage vs. The Bus in net.

Refs are Sean Reid and Mike Pearce. Lineys are Drew Jackson and Joe Monette

Dark Days

Josh Unice is on the WFCU ice working with Spits goalie coach Bill Dark.

Going post-to-post is the exercise.

Unice backs up Andrew Engelage tonight. 2 hours to faceoff.

Engelage starts for Windsor tomorrow

Mr. Peanut takes on The Bus as the Rangers visit the Mighty Spits on Thursday.

That's the goalie matchup.

Rangers have Mike Catenacci (shoulder) and Jonathan Jasper (hip) ready to return.

Micky Sartoretto took a tumble in practice and is a little sore. He'll be examined again tomorrow.

The Wrestlers

KINGSTON —
This was no Slumdog Millionaire.
It was more like The Wrestler, kind of grapply and grotesque.
But Sunday’s shambolic matinee showing by the Kitchener Rangers still copped a 3-2 Ontario Hockey League win over the Kingston Frontenacs before 2,973 at the K-Rock Centre.
Now, Price Waterhouse dudes, the envelope please.
Stuffed inside two perfectly valid points the Rangers needed to stay in the Western Conference playoff chase. The Rangers, who took an early 3-0 lead before going giveaway-giddy, were desperate for those points after losing 5-4 in Ottawa on Friday and 5-3 in Belleville on Saturday.

More in Monday's Record...

Rangers 3 at Fronts 2
First period:
1. Kitchener, MacKinnon 23 (Aleardi) 9:04
2. Kitchener, J. Skinner 24 (MacKinnon, Bortuzzo) 10:52 (pp)
3. Kitchener, Battani 11 (J. Skinner, Kelly) 16:04 (2pp)
4. Kingston, Gudbranson 3 (Mignardi) 17:07
Penalties — Lashoff, Kgn (roughing), Lalonde, Kit (unsportsmanlike conduct) 8:01;  Fenwick, Kgn (interferen e) 10:01; Marsden, Kgn (interference, fighting) , Randell, Kit (fighting) Bench, Kgn (served by Geoffrey) 14:13
Second period:
5. Kingston, Kennedy 9 (Mignardi, Lovatsis) 8:04
Penalties — Dzielski, Kit (high-sticking) 5:55; Lovatsis, Kgn (double, high-sticking) 9:29; J. Skinner (interference) 11:56; Gudbranson, Kgn (hooking) 13:15; Dzielski, Kit (holding) 14:01; Fenwick, Kgn (tripping) 17:22
Third period:
No scoring.
Penalties — Kennedy, Kgn (hooking) 5:26; Stevens, Kit (interference) 9:25; Lovatsis, Kgn (head check) 10:34

Shots on goal:
Kit 13-6-6 25
Kgn 11-15-13 39

Goaltenders: Parker Van Buskirk, Kit. Mavric Parks, Kgn.
Power plays: Kit (1-9), Kgn (0-4)
Referee: Mike Bolibruck
Linesmen: Sean Pindar, Patrick Brown
Attendance: 2,973

Fronts rock back

Colt Kennedy had the only goal of the second.
The Bus got caught fishing for a loose puck in the slot. Kennedy got an empty-netter.

"Road Hockey" describes the second period. Brutal giveaways all round.
Rangers are starting to lollygag. May be getting weary.