After falling to the London Knights by a 6-2 final on home ice on Tuesday, the Kitchener Rangers returned to action with a loss to Barrie at The Aud on Friday.
Entering the end of week matchup, the Kitchener Rangers named Lucas Pfeil as starter while he went up against Jet Greaves following an 8-3 loss on Sunday in Barrie. As well, the Rangers announced just three hours prior to puck drop that Reid Valade and Isaac Langdon would both draw into the team’s starting lineup. While both being scratched and monitored, the Kitchener Rangers were forced to recall forward Matthew Sop on an emergency basis.
Despite getting two players back, both Greg Meireles and Arber Xhekaj remain out of the lineup while serving suspensions. For the co-captain, he got five games while defensemen Arber Xhekaj got two for fighting. In addition to the pair of suspensions, Graham Dickerson, Matthew Sop and Simon Motew were scratched on Friday.
With that in mind, the Rangers entered Friday’s game on home ice while looking to get back on track following a win streak. As for the Barrie Colts, they arrived in Kitchener looking to do the same thing. The last time these two sides met, the Kitchener Rangers beat the Barrie Colts by a 5-2 final on the road at Colts Centre. Now in their last meeting of the season, the visitors from Barrie were looking to even the score.
As the game got underway on an overcast evening at The Aud in Kitchener, the Rangers would win on the opening face-off with Mike Petezian winning the draw and immediately taking it into the Colts zone. However, after a quick rush taken by the home team, the Barrie Colts were quick to convert on the play for their first of the night.
Kitchener, with fresh legs on the ice, would immediately ten it back to Greaves where the team’s first shot of the night was taken, but stopped and deflected back into play. As the Colts continued to find comfort, that would find Victor Hadfield out before Pfeil, though the puck was deflected away from the crease.
This would allow the Rangers to start moving it away and back up towards Greaves. After a scuffle that started at the boards and then made its way to the Barrie crease, the play was whistled down for the game’s first stoppage just three minutes in. Once resumed, this would find the Rangers dominating play by the left-side boards before Holden Wale sent the puck to the neutral zone where the Barrie Colts pounced on the puck once again.
Now in the slot in the Rangers zone, Ville Ottavainen would rush it up to the blue line where the play once again was whistled down for a stoppage. That would see a penalty called as the Kitchener Rangers were handed the power play. After a quick formation by Jet Greaves, Axel Bergkvist would snag it from Liam Hawel, but fan on the shot as it took to the boards and around the ice.
With the play now slowed, it was Axel Bergkvist in once again as he deked through the defence quickly formed by Barrie, but played it as the puck was converted the other way. However, this didn’t hurt any momentum as Serron Noel retrieved the puck halfway up before sending it to Pinelli who would feed it to McDonnell. McDonnell, making no mistake, would pot it right in for the game’s opening goal. This would give the Rangers an early lead on the Barrie Colts.
As the play resumed, it would be the Colts winning off the draw, though there hometown Rangers not allowing much success with aggression now showing back in their own zone. That saw Donavan Sebrango take a hit by the right side boards while protecting Lucas Pfeil.
After poking it back up, Sebrango poked it out from the benches and back into play for his team across the ice. However, the Rangers would lose it shortly after as Tyson Foerster took it down on his own. The puck then made its way to centre ice where it found Ethan Cardwell who sent it to Nathan Allensen before the puck was whistled down once again.
Now off from the Rangers right-side dot, it was the home team winning the draw as Francesco Pinelli took matters into his own hands, skating around Greaves and down the ice the other way. After a scuffle back in Kitchener’s zone, the play would be stopped with 11 minutes remaining in the game’s first period.
Again from the right-side dot, it was the Colts now winning the draw, though the Kitchener Rangers remaining aggressive as they poked it out at the Colts blue line where it would find the Barrie sticks who jointly worked to send it out and down the ice. Back at the net from the neutral zone, Pinelli would go chasing the puck while able to send it back down towards Lucas Pfeil in the Rangers zone.
That allowed Axel Bergkvist to retrieve it along the team’s blue line before sending it across the ice where it would be interfere with by Ryan Del Monte. With the Colts now holding possession, the Rangers worked to drag it back out as both sides went for line changes with 9:34 to play. This would result in a whistle with the Kitchener leading 1-0 early on.
As the play resumed at The Aud, the puck would be dropped from the Rangers left-side dot where Riley Damiani won the draw for the Rangers. At the same time, Jesse Fishman would be sent off for a penalty while called for roughing. Now from the Barrie zone, Del Monte would take it the puck to the blue line where he would feed it to Evan Vierling before a scuffle ensued. That would see a whistle be called while the Kitchener Rangers were then put on the penalty kill.
Battling at the net behind Pfeil, Isaac Langdon would rush the puck up the ice before feeding Noel who would go bar down, but just missing the net. The hard work wouldn’t stop there as Jonathan Yantsis fought off the Colts defensemen while sending the puck back down the ice to the neutral zone. However, the Rangers would struggle to maintain possession as the Barrie visitors started dominating defensively up along the boards. As the Rangers were quick to convert, Liam Hawel sent the puck to Axel Bergkvist who was out by the blue line with a shot, but just going high above Greaves.
That allowed the Kitchener Rangers to clear the puck back out to avoid any trouble. With Barrie having sent it back down, the puck would find Evan Vierling just outside the crease who would fan on a shot attempt. That would a;;pow the Rangers to work for possesion back out near the neutral zone where Jonathan Yantsis guided the play, setting up another attempt to double their lead with three minutes remaining.
While missing, the team sent it back up, thought, int was Ian Lemieux and Christopher Cameron working together to keep the zone clear of Kitchener. After an attempt to poke the pick out from a scuffle at the boards nearby Jet Greaves, Reid Valade took a shot on net, this stopping the play after just going wide. Now with just 1:45 to play in the first, the puck would be dropped from Barrie’s left-side dot. That would see Liam Hawel take the draw against Vierling and winning the draw.
The puck would then glide across the ice where it found Michael Vukojevic who would take a shot, but finding the stick of a teammate just outside the crease. Unfortunately for the Rangers, this would see the Barrie Colts turn it before tying the score with 1:11 remaining. Evan Vierling would be credited with the goal while Tyson Foerster was handed the assist. That would tie the meeting with just over two minutes left in the frame.
In the last minute of play, Kitchener would come out fighting, this being the case as a whistle was promptly called with 57 seconds left. That would see Jonathan Yantsis work for the go-ahead goal for the Rangers while Barrie then turned it and sending it to Pfeil who would retrieve it and easily save it, stopping play. In the final seconds, Axel Bergkvist, in the Rangers zone, would kill the clock while handling the puck before sending it out as the game siren sounded. Shots at the end of the period would be 10-7 in favour of Kitchener.
As the second period got underway, that would see Riley Damiani take the draw against 41 and winning the face-off. As such, the Kitchener Rangers quickly sent the puck to their own zone as Jonathan Yantsis sent it to Vukojevic, but the play called down as they entered the Barrie zone. Now form the Rangers right-side dot, Damiani would win again, but this seeing a shot quickly taken on Pfeil, though poked back out as the Barrie Colts dominated. That in mind, with Barrie invading, Pfiel would make a nice save, this avoiding a potential Barrie lead. However, on the rush to follow, he would fail to stop it as Brown scored his 20th of the regular season. The goal, scored at 1:05, would be assisted by Greaves and Forester.
As play resumed, the Barrie Colts, coming out aggressive, would take Axel Bergkvist to the boards, this stopping play just two minutes in. Again from the right-side dot, it would be the Colts winning the draw once again, this allowing the team to get in around Kitchener, though unable to find a hole before skating back out. While that struggle was short lived, Ian Lemieux fed the puck to Ethan Cardwell from the right-side boards who would pot it by Pfeil for his 22nd goal of the season. This would give the Colts a 3-1 lead on the hometown Rangers.
As play resumed again, Barrie, obviously comfortable, would continue to maintain possession while remaining in the Kitchener zone. However, after a shot taken on Pfeil, the play would be stopped now just four minutes in. This would see the Rangers dominating with a pair of shots on Jet Greaves in the Colts zone.
While the Colts were quick to poke it back out, the play once again as stopped with 15:38 left to play in the period. From there, it was all on Kitchener as Sebrango fed Francesco Pinelli who fed Mike Petezian near the Barrie crease. Petezian easily banked it through the legs of Greaves, this resulting in his 21st goal of the regular season.
As the play resumed, it was the hometown Rangers now driving the puck. However, this would result in a whistle just six minutes into the game’s middle frame. Once again after back-and-forth play, another whistle would ensue in the Rangers zone. That would see Holden Wale send it down the Rangers blue line before finding a teammate in the offensive zone, though unable to find something sustainable to run with. This would see another whistle while the Kitchener Rangers were put on the penalty kill.
Now from the right-side dot in the Rangers zone, that would allow Petezian to win the draw while Riley Damiani was sent off for high sticking. After a rush up the ice from Allensen, the play would be stopped as the The Aud crowd erupted in obvious displeasure. That saw Allensen sent off after a two-minute penalty, being called for holding.
As the second frame resumed, Petizian would feed Serron Noel, just coming close to yet another goal attempt. However, as the Colts converted the play, Pfeil turned on his attention while making a save with a whistle, stopping play. With 33 seconds left to play on the man advantage, Axel Bergkvist sent the puck to Pinelli who fed Arber Xhekaj who would finish it off. The goal, fired home on the rebound, would be his sixth goal of the regular season.
Despite this, the game-tying goal would be called for goaltender interference, resulting in a video review. After a lengthy review, the call would stand as the Barrie Colts then lost their timeout as a result of the failed review attempt. Now with 11 minutes left as the period resumed, Kitchener would start chasing their luck while looking for control of the puck from Barrie. Despite this, Vierling set up Allensen who who took a shot on Pfeil, but stopped with a blocker save. Pfiel would continue to impress as he did it again in the corner of the crease and the Colts still chasing.
That would make for a loud crowd as the puck was then dropped at the Rangers right-side dot. However, after a quick shot attempt high and wide on Pfeil, the play was stopped, being called for a whistle with ten minutes remaining.
As a result of the draw, the hometown Rangers would start to invade as Jonathan Yantsis took a shot on Greaves before once again chasing and sending it to Pinelli who would just miss himself while covering the crease. That would see Barrie send to back up before Pinelli was right there to convert it. As per the storyline, Anthony Tabak would rush the puck up the ice to Tyson Foerster who would take a shot on Pfeil, but stopped. In return, Jet Greaves would get busy with a shot from the Rangers, but stopped as well.
Following a short-lived whistle and 7:38 remaining, Petizian would take the face-off for Kitchener, winning the draw, though quickly turned by Foerster and the Colts who would take it up the ice through the neutral zone to Pfeil, but wide of the net. After sending it back down the ice, Arber Xhekaj went off to the bench for a Rangers line change. As Kitchener continued to dominate, that would see Serron Noel chase the puck to the net, but stopped by the defence set out by Barrie, that seeing a whistle.
Now from the left-side dot in the Colts zone, Kitchener would win the draw as Michael Vukojevic took it up to the Rangers blue line to buy some time, However, after a whistle, the face-off would be dropped at the Rangers left-side dot where Kitchener won the draw. That allowed Sebrango to grab it and feed the puck to Pinelli who would fan on a shot while the play then continued. However, Barrie was quick to turn it while a scuffle ensued at the right-side boards in the Rangers zone.
At the same time, killing the clock, 19 sent the puck to Vukojevic while looking for a path to take the puck down the ice. However, the play would be stopped due to slashing before the Kitchener Rangers were handed the power play. Off from the left-side dot in the Barrie zone, Greaves would face a pair of shots, though stopped and saved with three minutes remaining.
That saw the puck being dropped from the right-side dot in the Barrie Colts zone. After Yantsis sustained a hard hit, Axel Bergkvist would chase the puck up the ice towards Pfeil before bringing it back as even strength resumed. That allowed Bergkvist to find some room to feed Serron Noel who would send it to Damiani who would ego backhand, but not enough power to put it behind Greaves. Barrie then converted the play with a [pair of shots, but not getting through. As such, they saw a battle at the boards with Pinelli winning it while equipment was lost.
With just a minute left in the frame, Ian Lemieux, from the left-side slot would but the puck right in top shelf over the shoulder of Lucas Pfeil. This would give the Colts a 4-3 lead over the hometown Rangers.
In the final minute, the barrie Colts would invade the zone, though Pinelli would work to send the puck back down, this seeing a whistle with 34.9 remaining. Joseph Serpa would then go chasing while sending the puck across the ice in the Barrie zone. This, however, resulted in a whistle while Mike Petizian drew in on a line change.
In the last ten seconds, Riley Damiani took a shot on Greaves, but stopped and saved once again. On the last face-off for the frame, a whistle was immediately called at the right-side dot in the Barrie Colts zone. However, Barrie won the next draw as the clock died down and game siren sounded. Shots at the end of forty minutes would be 24-21 in favour of Barrie.
As the third frame got underway, it was the Barrie Colts off to the races, though not so fast as the hometown Rangers would step right in, this helping break up more scoring chances. While Kitchener easily turned it around, a shot from the blue line on Greaves would see the puck saved and a whistle stopping play. That didn’t stop the Rangers as who continued to dig for chances, though another shot taken on Greaves would be stopped and saved now five minutes in.
With the hometown Rangers still dominating, Declan McDonnell, at the right-side boards, would set up Liam Hawel by the Barrie Colts crease. While a goal path could not be established, a whistle was called once again, stopping play. Now from the right-side dot in the Rangers zone, it was Kitchener digging it out, though not so fast as Evan Vierling interfered and turned it around. However, they’d quickly poke it and rush it up the ice with another scoring chance. Now from Barrie’s right-side boards, Joseph Serpa, looking for a pathway, would maintain possession, killing time on the clock.
This would allow the Rangers to form a scoring chance up from their zone as Francesco Pinelli rushed up the ice while sending the puck across the ice to Noel. Noel, with his third chance of the night, would go just wide of the net as Greaves deflected the puck. However, with momentum still firing, another shot was taken on Barrie, this stopping play with just 12 minutes left. As the frame continued from Barrie’s right-side dot, the puck was moved in a hurry as Jonathan Yantsis fought for possession and won the scuffle just away from the benches.
As Kitchener continued chasing, Holden Wale, from the Barrie blue lime, woulds fire on Greaves, but just going wide. Looking to help him out, Liam Hawel would be sent off for tripping as the Rangers were put on the penalty kill. After the puck was dropped from the left-side dot in the Rangers zone, Nathan Allenson retrieved the puck off the draw and sent it to Vierling who would feed it to Foerster. Foerster then fired a bullet, his 35th goal of the regular season. This would give the Colts a 5-3 lead over the Kitchener Rangers.
As the play resumed, the Colts, still out for more, would take a shot on backstop Lucas Pfeil, but not able to do so as the Rangers converted. This would see a whistle be called with nine minutes left to play at The Aud. As the play resumed in the Barrie zone, Axel Bergkvist was quick taking it out, but this seeing another whistle called after a scuffle initiated by Barrie.
With 8:14 left on the clock, the Rangers would continue firing while looking to come within a goal of the Colts. As such, after the puck was drawn for a face-off again the Colts zone, the Rangers would form a scoring chance with a shot from Vukojevic from the Barrie blue line. Despite some help to follow, the score would remain 5-3 in favour of Barrie. That would see a whistle be called with seven minutes left against the visiting Colts.
With the clock counting down and both sides starting to get chippy, m another face-off would take place, though quickly called off with both sides getting handsy. Now from the Rangers left-side dot, it was Serron Noel rushing up with the puck, though losing possession at the right-side boards with the Colts on their game. While this then saw the puck poked out by Kitchener and down to Pfeil, Justin MacPherson went chasing before another brief whistle, this seeing another face-off.
That saw Mike Petezian winning the draw in the left-side dot, though not for long for Kitchener to run on as once again, the play was stopped for a whistle. As it resumed, Liam Hawel took a shot on Greaves, but stopped and saved. With another successful draw, Isaac Langdon slapped it back towards Greaves, but unable to find a teammate close en route as the Barrie Colts turned it, taking it down towards Pfeil. This would see both sides toughing it out behind the Rangers net and while no-one could successfully poke at it, the play was then stopped with yet another whistle.
Following a strong Rangers rush and just four minutes left to play in the period, a fight would ensue in the Kitchener zone where Arber Xhekaj was sent off for interference. That meant another face-off in front of the benches which Kitchener won. However, after a quick shot taken on Greaves, the play would be stopped with 3:54 remaining.
At the same time, the game would be brought down to four-on-four action as Evan Vierling, with three minutes left, was sent off the ice while being called for holding. Again as Kitchener took another strong rush up the ice, another fight broke out near the crease, this seeing a line change, but no further consequences. With a face-off now taking place from the left-side dot in Barrie’s zone, the Rangers would win as Riley Damiani sent it across the ice to Jonathan Yantsis who would slap it right in. The goal, scored at 3:03, would be his 38th of the regular season.
As the play resumed, Mike Petizian was back on the draw with Declan McDonnell quickly grabbing the puck and sending it back up with Kitchener now hot off the goal and looking for more. With 2:09 left on the clock and Barrie not yet feeling finished, the Colts would take a shot on Pfeil, but promptly saved and stopping the play. This would see a timeout called by Mike McKenzie, but brief and short lived.
Off from the Rangers right-side dot, that would see Petizian chasing with the puck rushing up towards Greaves and the Barrie net for perhaps their final chance. As such, he would receive a helping hand from Liam Hawel just in front of the benches, though stopped moments after. With 1:23 left to play, Barrie was quick to flick it from the left-side dot to the empty Kitchener net. Now from the right-side dot, the puck would easily become loose as Evan Vierling rushed down to the crease, but leaving it for Foerster to finish the job. The goal, his 36th of the season, would give the Colts a 6-4 lead over Kitchener.
As the play resumed, Lucas Pfeil would step back in as the Rangers won the draw off the face-off, though losing it in the neutral zone to Anthony Tabak. After poking it out from their own zone, Kitchener would lose control to Barrie before Reid Valade snagged the puck, killing time. This would see the clock wind down as the game siren sounded before a sold out arena. Shots at the end of the game would be 33-31 in favour of Barrie.
This would then be followed by the annual three stars of the game with Francesco Pinelli being named the game’s third star after recording three assists in the loss. Named second star of the game was Tyson Foerster with two goals and two assists, meanwhile, Evan Vierling would be named No. 1 with a goal and an assist.
After the game, The Puck Authority spoke with Kitchener Rangers right-winger Serron Noel who said when asked what he feels went wrong en route to the loss at The Aud on Friday, “I think we just came out and didn’t respect our enemy enough. They came out and had a good game and as you could tell, we were kind of just laid back and not winning puck battles and complaining too much, so you know, it starts with our better players, like me, I didn’t have a great game, so we’ll be better, we’ll bounce back on Sunday and hopefully get the win against Windsor.”
While Noel lacked production on Friday, the 6-4 loss was not only on him. With that being said, when speaking of changes that might be needed, Serron Noel, a Panthers draft pick, said of adjustments that could be beneficial, “I think, you know, just working on our D-zone a little bit and, you know, chipping pucks a little bit, playing a little bit heavier and playing more playoff hockey instead of our little skill and finesse game.”
Despite a quiet night personally, Noel went bar-down three times, all missing the mesh by just a matter of inches. Given his play during the win streak while factoring in his close calls on Friday, Noel, 19-years-old, said of his recent uprise in production, “I’d say probably just, you know, spending more time in the gym and off the ice, just working a little bit harder, trying to get back into playoff shape and obviously that playoff mentality coming up and just, you know, digging in and trying to win more battles and just work a little bit harder on the ice as well.”
Jonathan Yantsis scored one of Kitchener’s four goals on Friday night against the Barrie Colts and when asked about the call from McKenzie to have Lucas Pfeil get the start instead of Ingham, he said, “Doesn’t really matter to us who’s in the net. You know he’s gonna give us a chance to win no matter what and we kind of left him out to dry on a couple goals and we gotta have his back and when he gets in there, we gotta play for him as well as we do for Iggy.”
Lastly, when asked about adjustments that the Rangers could make before hitting the road, Jonathan Yantsis would close in saying, “We just gotta trust the system, we’ve kind of strayed away from it and we gotta get back to it. That’s why we were winning games.”
Following their 6-4 loss on Friday, the Kitchener Rangers are back in action on Sunday as they pay a visit to the Windsor Spitfires with puck drop scheduled for 2:05pmET. The game can be seen on Rogers TV and OHL Live, meanwhile, it can be heard on 570News AM.