Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Off-Season Thread (Part 4)
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bobber
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Great road game by the Rangers last night. They basically dominated the play from the start to the end of the game IMO. They answered the Spits every time they scored and played a fairly solid defensive game against the highest scoring team in the OHL. I was puzzled by the ref calling a no goal on the shorty. That was an obvious amateur call if I ever saw one. Not sure if these guys get embarrassed but he should have been. We all know the next game will be a massive challenge. Guarantied the Spits will wake up and come out hard. Not many teams in the league are going to beat these guys twice in a row at home. Or can they?
Rangers True Blue
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- Aug 2, 2017
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"On paper" showed up and outplayed the Spits last night.
Valade was on fire and is this season's Petizian? Swick and Misaljevik stepped up. Rangers were relentless for pretty much a full 60. It was not what Windsor expected (excuses aside....) and I'm sure we'll see a hungrier team tomorrow.
Two D on the PP?? That goes against the grain of what's usual but might just be what the Rangers need to change things up and help prevent shortie breakaways.
I really like how the Rangers celebrated their win but did not act like they just won the Mem Cup. They got the job done. On to the next game...
Valade was on fire and is this season's Petizian? Swick and Misaljevik stepped up. Rangers were relentless for pretty much a full 60. It was not what Windsor expected (excuses aside....) and I'm sure we'll see a hungrier team tomorrow.
Two D on the PP?? That goes against the grain of what's usual but might just be what the Rangers need to change things up and help prevent shortie breakaways.
I really like how the Rangers celebrated their win but did not act like they just won the Mem Cup. They got the job done. On to the next game...
Ferda11
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- Feb 16, 2016
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Watched the game, well done. Thought Kitchener controlled the game from start to finish. Great responses to Windsor's goals. Your PK was fantastic...with your 1 powerplay to Windsor's 4, it had to be. Great game for ya'll. Gonna be a hell of a series as Windsor will certainly bite back pretty hard Saturday I'd imagine.
RangerNation
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I'd love to see MM ride a winning goalie. This is why he brought in Marco. I will be very disappointed if he starts Vandenberg Saturday. My gut says he will.
robertmac43
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Tim Wallach
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I wouldn't worry. There's not a chance.
RangerNation
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bobber
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Really impressed with the play of the fourth line last night. Swick was a beast. Played well handling the puck with his long reach keeping Spit players on the outside. Also recovering pucks. Hollet has size and played a decent game also. Impressive. 
RangerNation
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3rd and 4th line really took it to the Spits. The announcers kept commenting on how the Rangers weren't falling back and still had the 4th line out late in the 3rd. We know Windsor is going to come at them differently on Saturday. This team tends to collapse when there is change, hopefully they can adapt quickly. Don't let them score first, it could be the dagger.Really impressed with the play of the fourth line last night. Swick was a beast. Played well handling the puck with his long reach keeping Spit players on the outside. Also recovering pucks. Hollet has size and played a decent game also. Impressive.
rangersblues
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Don't worry. Not a chance unless injury at this point.
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RangerNation
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This season has destroyed me lol MM saying "we did great riding both goalies, I don't see an issue" is 100% believable at this point
The only time Vandenberg got playing time was either through injuries or back to back games, as far as I remember. The latter is not going to happen.
bobber
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Well the Rangers poked the bees nest in the first game. This team hasn't had a glowing record of putting win streaks together this season. If there was a time and place to do it tonight is a great time to start the process. I am sure the Spits were ripped a new one after the last game. They did manage to hit two or three post. If it was horse shoes they win that game. Lets hope the Rangers have another horse shoe up there somewhere and pull off a miracle. 
Rangers True Blue
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London and Sarnia took care of business last night and quite convincingly so. So the Rangers upset the other night was quite a feat. Can it be repeated tonight? I would say that Windsor will come out hard and fast. One embarrassment was enough. Just the same, Rangers KNOW that they can play this team and had better be ready to do so from the get go OR tonight won't be pretty.
bobber
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I agree Blue. Rangers need to play the same style as the last game only with more intensity if possible. As fans we all came into this with low expectations. The 8th seed playing the top seed in the west is never going to be easy. Windsor seemed to be a little tentative because on paper the Rangers do have some offensive weapons. Hopefully the Rangers find a way to stay out of the box as I feel the Spits will step up the physical play and take some ill timed penalties in this next game. There wasn't a lot of hate but it does boil up in 7 game series.
EvenSteven
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- Sep 3, 2009
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Comparing these 2023 teams to those back in 2010, an arguably lesser stacked / all in Ranger team took a definitely more dominant Windsor team to 3-0 in 2010.
Not saying we’re going to go up 3-0, but, I’d be less surprised if we accomplished that today than I was back then.
The big difference was the character we had in that lineup vs today’s group. Though I think we could be starting to show some.
Similarities? Then and now we are highly offensive but allow a lot of goals.
Not saying we’re going to go up 3-0, but, I’d be less surprised if we accomplished that today than I was back then.
The big difference was the character we had in that lineup vs today’s group. Though I think we could be starting to show some.
Similarities? Then and now we are highly offensive but allow a lot of goals.
RangerNation
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Difference in Windsor is this years team doesn't seem to be as smothering as that 2010 team. We would watch them skate circles in the Rangers zone for 90% of ther period. When Kitchener did have the puck, they capitalized on it. I could see the next few games turning into a run and gun scenario again this year. Too much fire power on both sides.
Run and gun is probably your best chance, as Windsor not strong defensively.
rangersblues
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Biggest difference is no Jeff Skinner. He was probably the best player on the ice for any team in the playoffs that year. Pinelli could be that guy.
We'll have to see about this year. Right now I'm more optimistic than I expected. Full marks all around for winning game 1.
Waterloo Wolves playing tonight in semi final game at U16 OHL cup.
They beat Peterborough in overtime 6-5 and Brady Martin had 2 goal & 2 assists.
Had the game winner in over time. Than Waterloo beat Toronto Marlies 3-2.
Brady Martin had all 3 goals for Waterloo.
They beat Peterborough in overtime 6-5 and Brady Martin had 2 goal & 2 assists.
Had the game winner in over time. Than Waterloo beat Toronto Marlies 3-2.
Brady Martin had all 3 goals for Waterloo.
RangerNation
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Sell out in Windsor tonight. Tuesday looks 40% full. The "on paper" marketing of this team is going to show its ugly side in attendance. Underachieving with a fired coach will lead to the lowest attendance % in the league.
Matttheleaf
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- Apr 18, 2019
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That Windsor crowd on Thursday didn't look that great either. Tuesday does look kind of sparse, but it is a weekday for a 8 seed. The Thursday game is like a traditionally Friday game because of Good Friday and I think that shows as more seats are gone for that one. If they can steal this one tonight I suspect more tickets will sell for both games this week. And if it does go to game 6, many people also have money off, so that will be beneficial as well.
EvenSteven
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Would love to have a Dan Kelly on the backend!
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