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OHL Preview: Storm at Rangers

By Melissa Kania

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Three points separate the Kitchener Rangers and the Guelph Storm as the teams prepare to face off in one of two OHL games on the schedule for this evening.

• Kitchener Rangers: 36-18-1-7, 80 pts / 190 GF, 163 GA / 5-3-0-2 in last ten games
• Guelph Storm: 36-20-1-4, 77 pts / 228, GF, 186 GA / 7-3-0-0 in last ten games

The Rangers have the lowest goals-for in the Western Conference, and fourth-lowest in the OHL (Brampton, Mississauga, and Peterborough have all scored fewer goals). Of teams in the OHL with a plus goal-differential, Kitchener’s is one of the closest (+27). Guelph, meanwhile, has scored more goals AND allowed more goals than Kitchener.

Tonight’s game is the seventh meeting between Kitchener and Guelph this season, with each team having won three games so far in the season series.

After tonight’s game, they’ll face each other once more this season, on March 13 in Guelph.

LEADING THE WAY:

  • Goals: Matt Puempel (29) KIT, Scott Kosmachuk (31) GUE
  • Assists: Joshua Leivo (40) KIT, Tanner Richard (49) GUE
  • Points: Leivo (66) KIT, Kosmachuk & Richard (57) GUE
  • Penalty Minutes: Ben Thomson (113) KIT, Andrey Pedan (127) GUE

IN THE NET

  • GUE: Garret Sparks, 2.59 GAA, .918 save %, 1507 saves/1642 shots faced, 33-14-0-4
  • KIT: John Gibson, 2.41 GAA, .927 save %, 698 saves/753 shots faced, 15-8-0-0

THE SEASON SERIES

  • Dec. 4: Guelph wins in shootout, 3-2; Storm goals by Zack Mitchell & Tanner Richard, Rangers goals by Ben Thomson & Brent Pedersen. Garret Sparks stopped 33 of 35 shots, while Franky Palazzese stopped 41 of 43 shots for Kitchener.
  • Jan. 8: Kitchener wins, 6-2. Rangers goals from Ben Fanelli, Tobias Rieder, Eric Ming, Brent Pedersen, Josh Leivo and Justin Bailey; Storm goals from Jason Dickinson (2). Keegan Wilson stops 26 shots for the Storm, while Joel Vienneau stopped 35 shots for Kitchener.
  • Jan. 27: Kitchener wins, 3-2. Rangers goals from Ryan Murphy, Matt Puempel and Justin Bailey; Storm goals from Cody McNaughton and Tanner Richard. Joel Vienneau stopped 30 shots for the Rangers, while Garret Sparks had 28 saves for Guelph.
  • Feb. 6: Kitchener wins, 5-2. Rangers goals by Tobias Rieder, Ben Thomson, Josh Leivo, Domenic Alberga and Curtis Meighan; Storm goals by Justin Auger and Scott Kosmachuk. Joel Vienneau had 38 saves for Kitchener, while Garret Sparks had 30 saves for Guelph.
  • Feb. 8: Guelph wins, 4-3 in shootout. Storm goals from Patrick Watling and Scott Kosmachuk (2), Rangers goals from Tobias Rieder, Ryan Murphy and Justin Bailey. Garret Sparks had 40 saves for Guelph; Joel Vienneau had 40 saves for Kitchener.
  • Feb. 18: Guelph wins, 5-3. Storm goals from Andrey Pedan, Hunter Garlent, Brock McGinn, Zack Mitchell and Scott Kosmachuk; Rangers goals from Domenic Alberga, Ryan Murphy and Justin Bailey. Garret Sparks stopped 29 of 32 shots, while Joel Vienneau stopped 30 of 34 shots.
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