It's a big game tonight at the Aud.
The Rangers can move into a tie for third in the western conference, and second spot in the midwest division, with a win against the visiting Owen Sound Attack.
After going without a win at home in December, the club rebounded to go undefeated at the Aud in January.
Meanwhile, just one Kitchener Rangers player has suited up for every single game this season. And that's defenceman Ben Fanelli.
It's a nice story after all he went through early in his career.
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Kitchener:
Matt Puempel-Tobias Rieder-Josh Leivo
Ben Thomson-Matia Marcantuoni-Derek Schoenmakers
Brent Pedersen-Josh Sterk-Justin Bailey
Domenic Alberga-Curtis Meighan-Eric Ming
Ben Fanelli-Frank Corrado
Evan McEneny-Ryan Murphy
Max Iafrate-Jared Gilbert
Joel Vienneau (20-12-2-5) starts.
Owen Sound:
Daniel Milne-Gemel Smith-Zach Nastasiuk
Kyle Hope-Holden Cook-Kurtis Gabriel
Steven Janes-Daniel Catenacci-Cameron Brace
Gilbert Gabor-Stefano Pezzetta-Jaden Lindo
Keevin Cutting-Cody Ceci
Chris Bigras-Nathan Chiarlitti
Kurtis MacDermid-Brayden Rose
Jordan Binnington (22-8-1-3) starts.
***
Puck points:
- Kitchener Rangers rookie Justin Bailey was named OHL rookie after posting 11 points in 12 games in January.
- The first period may have been Kitchener's best this season. Lots of puck movement, chances and only a tough goalie in Jordan Binnington held the team to a lone goal. The second period? The team seemed to stay back and abandon the attack that made it so successful early on.
- Tobias Rieder is smoking hot. That's seven goals in the past eight games.
- Coach/GM Steve Spott said his top line of Rieder, Matt Puempel and Josh Leivo was the sole line that showed up tonight.
- If this new-look, penalty reduced Owen Sound Attack team keeps staying out of the box (they are first in the OHL in PIMs per game at 19.3), they will be tough to beat.
- Big missed opportunity for the Rangers. A win would have tied them with Owen Sound for second in the midwest division.
- That's Kitchener's first loss at the Aud in 2013.
- Talk about the perfect tonic, the Rangers get last place Erie to feast upon Sunday afternoon.
- Puck movement on the struggling Kitchener power play (second worst in OHL) was there tonight, the lads just need to get more shots on net.
- And before there is too much anger, let's give some credit to Jordan Binnington, who played a great game.
JB's top three Rangers: Tobias Rieder, Joel Vienneau, Matt Puempel
