This home date against the Generals has been a long time coming.
Eight road games and a subpar 3-4-0-1 record later and now the Rangers return to the Aud for the first time this season.
The atmosphere should be electric. It's up to the Rangers to prolong the fun.
Things will look different at the Aud after an extensive renovation. About another 1,000 folks will be cheering on the lads from the stands. It's gonna get loud in there.
Oshawa is no joke. In fact, the Gens are the top ranked OHL team in Canada. Beating them, would be a huge statement game for the home side, which has struggled mightily to score goals this season.
Looking for an inside look at the new Aud? Check it out here.
***
Kitchener's lines for tonight:
Thomson-Marcantuoni-Rieder
Puempel-Faksa-Ming
Pedersen-Alberga-Czinder
Sterk-Meighan-Bailey
McEneny-Murphy
Fanelli-Hanes
Gilbert-Genovese
John Gibson starts.
Defenceman Max Iafrate is out with the flu.
Oshawa:
Dal Colle-Jenner-Biggs
Latour-Laughton-Lessio
Lloyd-Cassels-Sabourin
Petschenig-Hughes-Smith
Petgrave-Suellentrop
Carlisle-Schemitsch
Hore-Brown
Dan Altshuller in goal.
***
Puck points:
- Wow, that was an adrenaline rush. Extra pre-game ceremonies meant this one ended right on deadline. Still out of breath from running up the stairs to the pressbox, lol.
- This is the Kitchener Rangers team fans have been waiting for. Fast, creative, playing hard. Captain Ryan Murphy, who had four assists, hinted that this may be a turning point for the slow starting club.
- That is the Ben Thomson we're used to seeing - a beauty fight, passion and a goal. Perhaps his best asset tonight was how he got under the Generals' skin.
- Gotta love the new temps at the Aud. By the third period last year I could barely feel my feet. Tonight, I actually shed my coat.
- Matia Marcantuoni finally scored a goal, in fact, he potted two. That shorthanded backhander was a beauty.
- Would love to see Radek Faksa have his breakout game. It'll come, but he has started off slow.
- Clarification on the OA situation. I had previously stated that one of the issues with the club was that none of the OAs had scored. That is true. My point was that teams rely on their older players to put up points and Kitchener had three studs last year. This time, the OAs are different, in that they are character guys. Alberga brings grit. Czinder size and skill. And Hanes is the stay at home defender the team lacked. I don't expect Hanes to put up big numbers, that's not his MO. But the other two have proven they can score and need to find the net.
- A few glitches at the Aud. Those TVs above the new seats need to be fixed. Lots of commercials and TV shows broadcasted instead of the game highlights and promos.
- 20 minutes after the game ends and kids are still here screaming in delight.
- No points for Evan McEneny, but he was plus-four.
JB's top three Rangers: Ryan Murphy, Matia Marcantuoni, Ben Thomson
