Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Off-Season Thread (Part 4)

[Rangers True Blue]

BOOOOOOM. Who saw that coming?? The first game was one thing but to shut Windsor down in the 2nd game. Wow!! At 2-0 in the 2nd consecutive game, it had to get in the Spits heads. Windsor fans booed their team. Rangers were relentless and the "team on paper" is now the team on fire.

It's not over yet boys. Rest, rinse, and repeat on Tuesday, Don't give them an inch no matter what.
Tuesday and Thursday at the Aud is going to be some wild, crazy hockey!!

 

[bobber]

The refs have been handing the Spits the series with 10-11 power plays to the Rangers 4. They haven't taken advantage of that gift. Even in two of those four they called a penalty on the Rangers. For an 8th place team to dominate the 1st place team is really incredible. Congrats to the Rangers coaching staff for keeping them on an even keel through out these two games. Enjoy these wins because the Spits won't go away easy. Rangers have to dig even deeper to win the series.

 

[RangerNation]

The back checking is some of best I've seen in years. They are getting back before Windsor has a chance to enter the zone and it's working flawlessly. The only change I see Windsor making is trying to do the same thing. Their offense is limited, so try and limit Kitchener’s too. When there are 4 players already in the zone defending a rush, players start to enforce individual efforts, and that's what has burned the Spits.

 

[bobber]

Playoff standings for the Western Conference. 8th seed Rangers in 1st place. 1st seed Spits in 8th place. It's like bizarro world.

 

[RichieRice]

Playoff standings for the Western Conference. 8th seed Rangers in 1st place. 1st seed Spits in 8th place. It's like bizarro world.

Exactly what I was thinking! We are playing like Windsor and they are playing like us.

 

[nelli27]

I agree Geo. There are no easy wins. It's a strange year in the west. Sometimes the bottom dwellers show up and you would think they are the ones at the top of the standings. The Spits seem to have some issues with defense but the offense is amazing. London has been the stingiest team in the west and I would never count them out with a full squad in seven games. Hunter is a hell of a coach and if any coach finds a way to win he is the one. Sarnia probably loaded up the most and has to be considered the team to come out of the west. They just seem to have a curse on them in the play offs. They must have some of the same bad Juju that befalls the Leafs. In saying this they seemed to have put it together this year going down the stretch here.

Bobber... Meeting Ward Cornell for coffee on Wednesday, 1 pm at Timmie's (King St, near Bridgeport Rd, Waterloo). Wanna join us... Good ole OHL playoff discussion.

 

[RangerNation]

Aud is slowly starting to fill up which is nice to see. Still lots left in the ends and blues which is usually the last to go anyways. I was one of many that said "thanks but no thanks" to playoff tickets after that regular season but my tune has definitely changed. Feels good to feel excited for once!

 

[rve24]

Bobber... Meeting Ward Cornell for coffee on Wednesday, 1 pm at Timmie's (King St, near Bridgeport Rd, Waterloo). Wanna join us... Good ole OHL playoff discussion.

Pull out some of the you tube moments. Mid 2000s had some great battles.
Perry/ Richard's at centre.
Vlabik, Foreman etal lol

 

[Ward Cornell]

Pull out some of the you tube moments. Mid 2000s had some great battles.
Perry/ Richard's at centre.
Vlabik, Foreman etal lol

Kindl vs Knights

 

[RangerNation]

Kindl vs Knights

That's the one

 

[bobber]

Bobber... Meeting Ward Cornell for coffee on Wednesday, 1 pm at Timmie's (King St, near Bridgeport Rd, Waterloo). Wanna join us... Good ole OHL playoff discussion.

Have to pass this time Nelli. Be great to hear you and Ward's take on the play offs. It is an interesting year in the west. I always really believed any of the top three could win the conference. Hoping the Rangers are for real and take the Spits. I never count the
Knights out of any series. Hunter is one of the best coaches ever and has won 900 games.
In the end it's all on the players and how they perform. Us arm chair GMs are legends in our own minds. It's great to have a forum like this to pretend we know how to run a franchise.

Looking at the draft thread below I see a mock draft where the Rangers take Hunter's younger brother first when their turn comes up. Just wonder what other think of that idea?

 

[mattommy98]

Hey ! Coming from Niagara for thursdays game! I’m pumped (to see a win for once ) any dinner recommendations close to the aud? Thanks , (I always pick one team to watch on THR playoffs since well you know the rest

 

[RangerNation]

Hey ! Coming from Niagara for thursdays game! I’m pumped (to see a win for once ) any dinner recommendations close to the aud? Thanks , (I always pick one team to watch on THR playoffs since well you know the rest

If you can get a reservation at Strykers beside the Aud, that's my vote for best wings in town. Not much around the aud unfortunately though. One of the only downfalls about the arena. Moose is always great, and right off the 401.

 

[EvenSteven]

That's the one

Yup. Always called it “Get Jakob Kindl night”.

It was unbelievable what the Knights got away with that game.

 

[rve24]

Yup. Always called it “Get Jakob Kindl night”.

It was unbelievable what the Knights got away with that game.

The force was strong. Hunter waves n the refs see nothing.
What a different game from just 15 -20 years ago. Could you imagine the suspensions now lol. ( yes I went down the utube rabbit hole),
Can't imagine the early 70s n the stick work etal.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

Yup. Always called it “Get Jakob Kindl night”.

It was unbelievable what the Knights got away with that game.

I called it my 20th birthday lol.

I was at the game where Kindl pounded Robbie Drummond into the boards and the March 8th game in London. Got spit on and stuff thrown at me at that game as I was wearing my Matt Lashoff jersey but it was worth it. We won lol.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Grabbed tickets for Thursday. First game since pandemic, been a couch jockey for a while. Always love a game 4; a team either has a chance to sweep, take a decisive series lead, or it becomes a best of 3 after.

 

[RangerNation]

Picked up my ticket for Thursday as well. That game will surely be sold out by then. Still lots left for tonight but still well beyond what we usually draw for a 1st round. Excited for some playoff atmosphere!

 

[GeoBlue]

Game 3
Windsor at Kitchener:

Sop-Pinelli-Mesar
Arcuri-Zhilkin-Valade
Misaljevic-Rehkopf-Martin
Swick-Mercer-Hollett

Moore-Schmidt
Andonovski-Brzustewicz
Hamara-Motew

Costantini

 

[EvenSteven]

After the first two games, kudos to the bottom six. Post trade deadline, we thought that was a major deficiency on this team.

I don’t mind being wrong.

 

[Jives]

Game 3
Windsor at Kitchener:

Sop-Pinelli-Mesar
Arcuri-Zhilkin-Valade
Misaljevic-Rehkopf-Martin
Swick-Mercer-Hollett

Moore-Schmidt
Andonovski-Brzustewicz
Hamara-Motew

Costantini

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Windsor seems to be changing a lot with their line.

 

[Gondrex]

After the first two games, kudos to the bottom six. Post trade deadline, we thought that was a major deficiency on this team.

I don’t mind being wrong.

Not sure if you were necessarily wrong ES. The 4th line really did not produce all season long. Now that it is comprised here in the playoffs of one of the only (3) 05's in this line-up, a 6'-6" 04 and a 6'-3" 03, really there should be at least some expectations there now IMO.

The Rangers won the first two. My plea - don't waste what you've gained.....and for Pete's sake, don't poke the bear .

 

[TheBlueMonster]

Game plan.

Same as the previous 2 games.


Windsor welcoming back Dionoco. So that's a boost for them but 1 player shouldn't change the plan or dynamic.

Play a solid 60.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

5min because a guy hopped over the boards at the worst possible time (based on only angle I've been able to review). Great way to start.

 

[blkhawk]

Why does it take so long to review