The Rangers are cooking.
Justin Bailey's hat trick in Friday's 5-3 win against Plymouth has the Rangers off to their most successful start since 2010-11 when the team had 26 points through 18 games.
This season - thanks to last night's victory - the club is 10-3-2-3, good for 25 points.
Friday's come from behind win was important since the team was coming off two consecutive overtime losses.
The current run - points in 13 straight games - has the Rangers in fourth place in the OHL's western conference, just a point behind second place Sault Ste. Marie and London.
It doesn't get any easier tonight as they face the OHL leading Erie Otters, who took just their second regulation time loss last night (2-1 to the suddenly hot Niagara IceDogs).
It's back to the Aud for the Rangers Sunday for what should be a gimme against the last place Sudbury Wolves.
Kitchener:
Brandon Robinson-Ryan MacInnis-Justin Bailey
Adam Mascherin-Gustaf Franzen-Brent Pedersen
Darby Llewellyn-Curtis Meighan-Mason Kohn
Mark Bzowey-Connor Bunnaman-Mike Davies
Dmitrii Sergeev-Frank Hora
Max Iafrate-Liam Maaskant
Doug Blaisdell-Logan Schmidt
Matt Greenfield (5-3-1-2) starts.
Erie:
Mason Marchment-Dylan Strome-Alex DeBrincat
Travis Wood-Kyle Pettit-Nick Betz
Patrick Murphy-Trent Fox-Taylor Raddysh
Quentin Maksimovich-Shaun Bily-Patrick Fellows
Kurtis MacDermid-Darren Raddysh
Travis Dermott-Troy Donnay
Cory Genovese-Jesse Saban
Devin Williams (11-2-0-1) starts.
Puck points:
- The Rangers had a five-on-three power play for 1:43 in the first period but failed to score.
- On ice officials called a goal for Connor Bunnaman about four minutes into the second period. Upon further review it was waived off.
- Rangers F Justin Bailey has four goals in the past two games.
- Kitchener erupts for four third period goals. Two came within 12 seconds of each other.
- The Rangers now have points in 14 straight games but more importantly have strung together two consecutive wins against west opponents.
JB's top three Rangers: Matt Greenfield, Liam Maaskant, Brent Pedersen