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

[TheBlueMonster]

On the road to London now. Lets take over the house of green and make it The Aud, Middlesex

Well, just got back in From London.


Confirmed, didn't have a good time.

London fans was great tonight so shout out to them. I remember going there with my jersey on 20 years ago and you was lucky to leave with out being spit on. Tonight was pleasant.

Game points

- Rangers never got off the bus. No intensity. (Stupid penalties are not intensity)
- the defence completely hung Marco out to dry.
- Moore, Motew and Schmidt should be leading by example and boy did they look like 10th round pick rookies. I can't wait for two of those 3 to be gone.
- Martin needs to play his game. Enough with the BS. I love that he's showing physicality and isn't backing down but his needless penalties are costing the team one of their best skaters everytime.
- Needless penalties by the bunch. Officiating wasn't shoddy tonight. Some weak calls certainly. Thought london did get some dives in but the Rangers did themselves no favors to get the benefit of those calls so far in the series with the dozen of needless penalties
- I thought Mesar, Missle, and Bottineau where the best players today.
- I love that Bottineau didn't take anyones shit. He's giving me some hope that he will turn into a very solid ranger.
- Would have loved to see a time out after the 2nd goal and see Mike scolding the players. I hate the way it looks but they earned a solid yelling after these two games.



The team needs to get back to what got them passed Windsor. Keep shooters to the outside, always have a forward hanging back in transition, Don't let anyone skate with in a foot of Marco, stay out of the box.

Down 2-0 isn't the end of the world. But to not put in a decent showing in these 2 games is concerning. This looks like it will be a quick series and with how the 1st round went, its a damn shame.

 

[rve24]

Well, just got back in From London.


Confirmed, didn't have a good time.

London fans was great tonight so shout out to them. I remember going there with my jersey on 20 years ago and you was lucky to leave with out being spit on. Tonight was pleasant.

Game points

- Rangers never got off the bus. No intensity. (Stupid penalties are not intensity)
- the defence completely hung Marco out to dry.
- Moore, Motew and Schmidt should be leading by example and boy did they look like 10th round pick rookies. I can't wait for two of those 3 to be gone.
- Martin needs to play his game. Enough with the BS. I love that he's showing physicality and isn't backing down but his needless penalties are costing the team one of their best skaters everytime.
- Needless penalties by the bunch. Officiating wasn't shoddy tonight. Some weak calls certainly. Thought london did get some dives in but the Rangers did themselves no favors to get the benefit of those calls so far in the series with the dozen of needless penalties
- I thought Mesar, Missle, and Bottineau where the best players today.
- I love that Bottineau didn't take anyones shit. He's giving me some hope that he will turn into a very solid ranger.
- Would have loved to see a time out after the 2nd goal and see Mike scolding the players. I hate the way it looks but they earned a solid yelling after these two games.



The team needs to get back to what got them passed Windsor. Keep shooters to the outside, always have a forward hanging back in transition, Don't let anyone skate with in a foot of Marco, stay out of the box.

Down 2-0 isn't the end of the world. But to not put in a decent showing in these 2 games is concerning. This looks like it will be a quick series and with how the 1st round went, its a damn shame.

I'm glad to hear the fans were OK. TY for posting that.

I'm not positive but did KR burn a timeout challenging the 2nd goal.
If so, JMO, but it sends a message to the players...... we need help from the refs cause the protest wasnt even close......If not my bad and agreed the coach shoulda used at some point in the 1st.

 

[rangersblues]

Well, just got back in From London.


Confirmed, didn't have a good time.

London fans was great tonight so shout out to them. I remember going there with my jersey on 20 years ago and you was lucky to leave with out being spit on. Tonight was pleasant.

Game points

- Rangers never got off the bus. No intensity. (Stupid penalties are not intensity)
- the defence completely hung Marco out to dry.
- Moore, Motew and Schmidt should be leading by example and boy did they look like 10th round pick rookies. I can't wait for two of those 3 to be gone.
- Martin needs to play his game. Enough with the BS. I love that he's showing physicality and isn't backing down but his needless penalties are costing the team one of their best skaters everytime.
- Needless penalties by the bunch. Officiating wasn't shoddy tonight. Some weak calls certainly. Thought london did get some dives in but the Rangers did themselves no favors to get the benefit of those calls so far in the series with the dozen of needless penalties
- I thought Mesar, Missle, and Bottineau where the best players today.
- I love that Bottineau didn't take anyones shit. He's giving me some hope that he will turn into a very solid ranger.
- Would have loved to see a time out after the 2nd goal and see Mike scolding the players. I hate the way it looks but they earned a solid yelling after these two games.



The team needs to get back to what got them passed Windsor. Keep shooters to the outside, always have a forward hanging back in transition, Don't let anyone skate with in a foot of Marco, stay out of the box.

Down 2-0 isn't the end of the world. But to not put in a decent showing in these 2 games is concerning. This looks like it will be a quick series and with how the 1st round went, its a damn shame.

Totally agree with your assessment of the penalties as well as the game. I did feel that in the 3rd period the Rangers did get under London's skin a little and they were hearing footsteps.

It's a little to build on after the last 2 periods of game 1 and the first two periods of game 2.

 

[robertmac43]

It will be nice to get Pinelli back in the lineup and regroup before game 3.

 

[bobber]

Rangers need to start playing "play off hockey". They did in the 3rd period. Round one you can surprise a higher seeded team once in a while. Round 2 your opponent is battle ready after beating their 1st rnd opponent. Teams have to step up there physical game. The Knights are coached to play any style. They had the highest penalty minutes in the west I believe. Rangers are not playing the Spits. Every team is coached differently. Not sure if MM had the Rangers mix it up in the 3rd or the players were just pissed but they started scoring in that period. Not exactly sure what "Ranger hockey" is that they coaches and other pundits talk about on the tube but I hope this isn't what we have seen so far. Rangers have to adjust something about what they are doing or I might have to take up golfing next week.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

It's starting to look like they gave everything they had in that Windsor series. See if home ice and Pinelli help, but when you give up 8, I'm not sure he would have made a difference.

 

[dmead]

I watched that series against Windsor. Rangers didnt act like buffoons or dbags in that series. They played hard, granted, but not like this.

If they just stick to hockey this is a tighter series. Otherwise they are done Tuesday.

 

[RangerNation]

I watched that series against Windsor. Rangers didnt act like buffoons or dbags in that series. They played hard, granted, but not like this.

If they just stick to hockey this is a tighter series. Otherwise they are done Tuesday.

Home ice typically brings teams back to reality a bit. I would expect a tighter game Sunday, but I've expected a lot this year and as a result, I've aged 10 years.

 

[EvenSteven]

I watched that series against Windsor. Rangers didnt act like buffoons or dbags in that series. They played hard, granted, but not like this.

If they just stick to hockey this is a tighter series. Otherwise they are done Tuesday.

Just about all the Ranger penalties were earned these last two games. London has been very disciplined giving the Rangers only 5 PP’s over the two games. And maybe two of those were “gift” PP’s.

I agree. Eliminate the dumb penalties and it’s a closer series.

Knights get nine power plays and pick up 2-0 series lead

Officiating all the talk after Game 2 between Kitchener Rangers and London Knights

kitchener.citynews.ca

And MM complaining about the lopsided PP’s in this series as he is in this article is reaching IMO. Surely he can’t really believe his team is being jobbed by the officiating.

 

[sbpointer]

I watched that series against Windsor. Rangers didnt act like buffoons or dbags in that series. They played hard, granted, but not like this.

If they just stick to hockey this is a tighter series. Otherwise they are done Tuesday.

This says a lot... The Rangers need to play with an edge to succeed but with disipline. They all but came unhinged last night. Everyone, the players, the coach, Pope and Farwell postgame literally everyone.
These guys can play when they play with disipline but last night they deserved everything they got except their 4th goal with came on a gift of a PP when Arcuri should have been sitting in the penalty box. ( Disipline goes both ways and they got Edward to bite after Arcuri cross checked every Knight on the ice )

 

[bobber]

When the Knights played the Attack in the 1st rnd there were many post regarding the dirty play of the Knights. As dmead said above dirt bags and buffoons all around I guess. I know they have the market cornered on halos in the Forest City. You have to expect some rough play in the post season. These guys aren't playing tennis. There has to be passion in hockey games and sometimes it boils over. In Brown's article MM was discussing how the refs have given the opponent 29 power plays to 15 for the Rangers. He surmises there is a fear factor of calling penalties with an older more experienced coach (Hunter) as opposed to a younger coach. You can see it in the Knights players. Bump one and they automatically look right at the ref. Rangers have to be more disciplined for sure and stay away from dumb penalties. There is nothing wrong with a few timely clean hits. The Knights tv guys love to brag about their hits.
We will see how the Rangers respond on Sunday. If they lose that game they might as well fold up the tent.

 

[EvenSteven]

Not pointing fingers at Costantini, but the Rangers virtually refusing to have him make back to back starts two days in a row all season probably didn’t help.

Twice, I believe, it happened all season. Once he got pulled and the other he did well.

Often Vandenberg would be left to play tough opponents for no other reason than to keep from having Marco play two days in a row.

And here we are in the playoffs running into a situation where we have to start him two days in a row.

Again, not blaming Costantini, but playing two days in a row should have been old hat for him.

 

[Slowpace]

When the Knights played the Attack in the 1st rnd there were many post regarding the dirty play of the Knights. As dmead said above dirt bags and buffoons all around I guess. I know they have the market cornered on halos in the Forest City. You have to expect some rough play in the post season. These guys aren't playing tennis. There has to be passion in hockey games and sometimes it boils over. In Brown's article MM was discussing how the refs have given the opponent 29 power plays to 15 for the Rangers. He surmises there is a fear factor of calling penalties with an older more experienced coach (Hunter) as opposed to a younger coach. You can see it in the Knights players. Bump one and they automatically look right at the ref. Rangers have to be more disciplined for sure and stay away from dumb penalties. There is nothing wrong with a few timely clean hits. The Knights tv guys love to brag about their hits.
We will see how the Rangers respond on Sunday. If they lose that game they might as well fold up the tent.

Sounds as you're as frustrated as the Rangers have been so far. If they stuck to playing their game instead of, for whatever reason, gooning it up, it might be a different series. I think MM chose to face the Spits instead of the Knights in the first round for good reason....Hunter always outcoaches him. I think we'll see a different Rangers team starting Sunday with Pinelli back.

 

[bobber]

Sounds as you're as frustrated as the Rangers have been so far. If they stuck to playing their game instead of, for whatever reason, gooning it up, it might be a different series. I think MM chose to face the Spits instead of the Knights in the first round for good reason....Hunter always outcoaches him. I think we'll see a different Rangers team starting Sunday with Pinelli back.

I wouldn't say always when you look at last year. That series was just a goal tender battle the Rangers won in the end. Other than that you are correct Slowpace. I always maintain if the Rangers want to win championships they have to build teams that can compete with the Knights on a regular basis. The Knights find players that fit their mold and contribute. The Hunters do a great job drafting and getting players to buy in. If they don't fit in they end up somewhere else. I think MM saw the flaw in the Spits defense whereas the Knights team defense is tight. I notice the Knights collapse as a five man unit at their blue line every time an opposing player comes across. Forces the Rangers to dump pucks in an try to recover it. Rangers had it easy with the Spits who seemed docile for some reason. Good luck on Sunday. Hope the Rangers find a way to win.

 

[rangersblues]

When the Knights played the Attack in the 1st rnd there were many post regarding the dirty play of the Knights. As dmead said above dirt bags and buffoons all around I guess. I know they have the market cornered on halos in the Forest City. You have to expect some rough play in the post season. These guys aren't playing tennis. There has to be passion in hockey games and sometimes it boils over. In Brown's article MM was discussing how the refs have given the opponent 29 power plays to 15 for the Rangers. He surmises there is a fear factor of calling penalties with an older more experienced coach (Hunter) as opposed to a younger coach. You can see it in the Knights players. Bump one and they automatically look right at the ref. Rangers have to be more disciplined for sure and stay away from dumb penalties. There is nothing wrong with a few timely clean hits. The Knights tv guys love to brag about their hits.
We will see how the Rangers respond on Sunday. If they lose that game they might as well fold up the tent.

If the message in the room is the same as in the article - the referees are to blame, this series is over. The Rangers have taken some undisciplined penalties (and most weren't "bad calls"). London has capitalized.

But there were far bigger problems in the last 2 periods of game 1 and first 2 periods of game 2. If the Rangers aren't going to recognize that, then as MM puts it "I don't know what to say."

 

[bobber]

If the message in the room is the same as in the article - the referees are to blame, this series is over. The Rangers have taken some undisciplined penalties (and most weren't "bad calls"). London has capitalized.

But there were far bigger problems in the last 2 periods of game 1 and first 2 periods of game 2. If the Rangers aren't going to recognize that, then as MM puts it "I don't know what to say."

MM has to be able to adjust his strategy to counter the Knights system. Rangers shot themselves in the foot in both games with dumb penalties to give the Knights the advantage. Once they got the lead the Rangers were not able to push back. When you look at the regular season the Knights slowly climbed the standings and held their position. I really don't feel the Rangers were in a position to go for it before the deadline with the base they had but MM made the choice to add. It was a gamble. Hope there is more to this than just embarrassing the Spits. If they can win one at home they can make it a series. Be one hell of a step up from the way they played the last two games. Glad Pinelli is back. He does spark this team. Gives the team something to play for.

 

[GeoBlue]

If they can win one at home they can make it a series.

I personally feel we need to sweep our home games. Being down 3 - 1 after Tuesday is the dagger in the back.

 

[Matttheleaf]

I haven't been able to catch either game fully (thankfully), but I am shocked at the number of penalties across the board this postseason. Now I am not saying that anyone is being wrongfully targeted or anything like that but if we look at the penalty minutes per game average in the regular season, the team that had the most PIM per game were sudbury with 13.3. That number would have you ranked as the 12 highest PIM team in the post season. So either the refs really started to crack down extra hard or more teams are playing extra stupid for some reason.

Again if we look at regular season vs post season penalties between just London and Kitchener, London took the second most penalties per game in the regular season and the rangers took the third least, so either the rangers need to start acting like hockey players and less life boxers (which is the most likely case in my mind), or something else is happening I guess.

That's my piece on the first tow games so far.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

Totally agree with your assessment of the penalties as well as the game. I did feel that in the 3rd period the Rangers did get under London's skin a little and they were hearing footsteps.

100%. I don't think you'll see another game like this in the series. I expect some close games moving forward. Hopefully these first 2 games where a lesson learned.

 

[bobber]

I haven't been able to catch either game fully (thankfully), but I am shocked at the number of penalties across the board this postseason. Now I am not saying that anyone is being wrongfully targeted or anything like that but if we look at the penalty minutes per game average in the regular season, the team that had the most PIM per game were sudbury with 13.3. That number would have you ranked as the 12 highest PIM team in the post season. So either the refs really started to crack down extra hard or more teams are playing extra stupid for some reason.

Again if we look at regular season vs post season penalties between just London and Kitchener, London took the second most penalties per game in the regular season and the rangers took the third least, so either the rangers need to start acting like hockey players and less life boxers (which is the most likely case in my mind), or something else is happening I guess.

That's my piece on the first tow games so far.

 

[bobber]

PIMs can be caused by a couple of different things. One a fast team with a higher winning percentage that plays a more physical style and has a good penalty kill. Rangers despite what was seen in the 3rd period of the last game are basically a softer squad in spite of their size. I don't think it was discipline why the Rangers had a lower PIM it was the type of player they have on the squad. Hollet tries to play tougher but usually takes dumb penalties for his efforts.

 

[RangerNation]

Getting the first 5 goals in today's game is critical. 5-3 Rangers.

This is the only game this series I can make so make it a win. I'd love to see the 3rd round though. Ha!

 

[bobber]

Reading the Knights board I see where McKenzie's reffing comments caught the attention of Mark Hunter. I think Mark was throwing a little BS at the barn door hoping MM be fined for his indiscretions. MM better watch himself. Mark might be a long lost cousin of Dave Branch. Reminds me of the old Deboer days when he challenged the reffing. Game within a game.

 

[EvenSteven]

Reading the Knights board I see where McKenzie's reffing comments caught the attention of Mark Hunter. I think Mark was throwing a little BS at the barn door hoping MM be fined for his indiscretions. MM better watch himself. Mark might be a long lost cousin of Dave Branch. Reminds me of the old Deboer days when he challenged the reffing. Game within a game.

Don’t blame Hunter for his comments. As I said here earlier, most of those calls against were warranted. That being said, it’s enjoyable that we’re getting some “back and forth” in the media these playoffs. Entertainment!

No doubt referee supervisors will have reviewed the calls this round and likely see things for what they are. With that in mind, look for us to get slapped with the 1st penalty a couple minutes into the game today as an “FU” to MM for his comments.

 

[bobber]

Don’t blame Hunter for his comments. As I said here earlier, most of those calls against were warranted. That being said, it’s enjoyable that we’re getting some “back and forth” in the media these playoffs. Entertainment!

No doubt referee supervisors will have reviewed the calls this round and likely see things for what they are. With that in mind, look for us to get slapped with the 1st penalty a couple minutes into the game today as an “FU” to MM for his comments.

There is no denying over the years we have all seen Dale Hunter up on the opposition bench at the Aud barking at the referees. Even if they are winning by four goals and the Rangers look like they should have stayed in bed and the Knights are on the PP. He does try to push the refs buttons. Its part of his shtick. I just hope those 3 guys are still around with the glasses and camel coloured sports coats. Better than any skit on SNL. Deboer almost took a seizure a couple of times and got tossed when Dale put his act on for the publics pleasure. We all know the Knights are a well coached team but I as a Ranger fan have far too much Irish in me to give them an inch. Hope they send Dale home with his tail between his legs.