Wednesday was good, bad and ugly for Rangers

It wasn’t exactly how the Kitchener Rangers drew it up.

The Kitchener Rangers managed three third-period goals, and clipped the Owen Sound Attack 5-4 at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.

“It’s good to get the two points, but it’s not one of those games when it feels great,” said Kitchener head coach Jay McKee.

     THE GOOD

The Blueshirts managed to get off the schneid, ending their three-game losing streak. Joseph Garreffa led the way offensively with his second four-point-night – all assists in Owen Sound. His previous game with four assists came less than two weeks ago on November 17.  McKee says the analytics point to keeping “Joey-G” on defence.

“It’s not just points, it’s shot attempts for-and-against,” said McKee. “I’m not a guy that lives-and-dies by analytics, but there are some numbers that drastically change how our team is and how things flow having him back there.”

Adam Mascherin scored twice on the power play, giving him a team-leading 14 on the season. He added the primary assist on the game-winning Kole Sherwood marker, which was Sherwood’s tenth of the season. Mascherin leads the team in points with 29.

Greg Meireles and Rickard Hugg also scored in the win, giving Hugg two goals in two games.

     THE BAD

The Rangers may have a big hole to fill on defence. Connor Hall left the game in the second period, with what appeared to be an upper-body injury. The Pittsburgh Penguins draft-pick has already had work done on both shoulders in his young career, and has yet to play 40 games during a regular season.

“He’s been our guy that has really been a rock back there,” said McKee. “His individual chances against has been low, he’s been a top P-K guy for us, he’s shutting down other team’s top lines; it’s going to hurt if he’s out for any duration. We’re going to reassess him tomorrow and see where things are at.”

Hall was visibly upset when leaving the ice. A tough sight for everyone watching.

     THE UGLY

The Rangers needed three third-period goals in the comeback.

The team gave up its third shorthanded goal against in the last two games. For the second time in three games, the Rangers were forced to pull their goaltender.

After giving the yank to Chris McGonigle, McKee said both McGonigle and Luke Richardson – who was pulled Friday in Sault Ste. Marie – need to be better moving forward.         

“Those two goals from low on the goal line is not giving us a chance to win,” said McKee. “All we ask is for a chance to win and when we say that, we need those pucks stopped; those ones from the bad angles, the ones that you should never see go in, and to have a couple go in in one game is deflating.”

“We still believe in every guy in that room. As frustrating as it is, we have goaltenders who are capable of winning games and keeping us in games.”

Kitchener is back at home on Friday to cap off the home-and-home with the Attack. Broadcast is at 7 p.m.