No winter jacket on in Sault Ste. Marie on Jan. 31.
Send me the link to this blog entry the next time I complain about how cold it is on the road (note: likely to happen sooner than later).
Yes, it's mild up here, at least for the north. Drove in to Gordon Lightfoot's "North Ontario" which was fitting for this afternoon's tilt against the 'Hounds.
I always get a kick out of how the Canadian border guards just wave me in sans issues. I'm pretty sure the lady working the booth didn't even open my passport. Quite a different experience coming the other way.
The Rangers are looking for a six point weekend. This is their makeup game with the London Knights. After today, the rivals are on equal footing as far as games played.
Kitchener closed it out late in the third last night. Mason Kohn had some unfinished business in that one. It was a close back and forth game so it will be interesting to see how much gas the Rangers have left.
Kitchener:
Darby Llewellyn-Ryan MacInnis-Jeremy Bracco
Brandon Robinson-Gustaf Franzen-Adam Mascherin
Connor Bunnaman-Mason Kohn-David Miller
Joseph Garreffa-Nick Magyar-Jake Henderson
Miles Liberati-Dylan Di Perna
Connor Hall-Frank Hora
Doug Blaisdell-Elijah Roberts
Luke Richardson (2-3-1-0) starts.
Soo:
Blake Speers-Gabe Guertler-Zach Senyshyn
Tim Gettinger-Hayden Verbeek-Boris Katchouk
Jack Kopacka-Morgan Frost-Bobby MacIntyre
Makar Tokarev-Liam Hawel-Bryce Yetman
Colton White-Mac Hollowell
Tyler Hore-Gustav Bouramman
Medric Mercier-Conor Timmins
Brandon Halverson (12-12-2-0) starts.
Brownie points:
- Been getting a lot of questions about Jacob Cascagnette. He is not hurt. A healthy scratch for now. Everyone is playing well in this lineup and it's a tough one to crack at the moment.
- Connor Hall's turn to drop the gloves. He went toe-to-toe with Tim Gettinger in the first. That's two bouts in two days for the Rangers as Jake Henderson slugged it out Saturday in Saginaw.
- The line of MacInnis, Robinson and Magyar was reunited briefly. Pretty sure they haven't played since last season. Magyar also got time with Franzen in a bid to get the veteran firing. Magyar is pointless in the past six games. UPDATE: Magyar scored his seventh 3:28 into second.
- Connor Bunnaman is heating up. The sophomore forward has three points (2G, 1A) in his past three games.
- This one went about as planned. The Rangers looked exhausted and made a bunch of mental mistakes that cost them the game.
- Luke Richardson's rebound control was iffy but he also made some spectacular saves. Soo coach Drew Bannister said he "played fantastic." Can't hang this one on him that's for sure.
- First game all season where the top line wasn't much of a factor. That's pretty amazing to say that so deep into the schedule.
- The Soo scored twice off turnovers at their own blueline. They also had three goals on four shots in the third.
- Waterloo native Boris Katchouk had a pair of goals for the 'Hounds. It was his second two-goal game this season.
- The Rangers haven't won in the Soo since Jan. 16, 2011. Since then the team is 0-10.
- A tough week ahead. A roadie against the renewed Sarnia Sting Wednesday, home to Niagara Friday and then another road trip to Flint on Saturday.
JB's top three Rangers: Connor Bunnaman, Nick Magyar, Doug Blaisdell