Rangers can’t reel Whalers in
Posted Feb 26, 2014 05:45:35 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Kitchener Rangers are starring up a large hill with the season winding down.
The Rangers fell to the Plymouth Whalers 4-2 at the Aud Tuesday night, and now sit seven points back of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with eight games left on the schedule.
The Whalers scored two in the first period and lead by that margin after 20 minutes.
The Rangers got one back midway through the second period when Brent Pedersen scored his 14th goal of the year 4-on-4, after Mason Kohn went off for an offsetting roughing minor. Kohn’s semi-fisticuff play seemed to energize the Rangers for a short period of time, and the second period ended 2-1 after the Rangers failed to capitalize on a few good chances.
AUDIO 570’s Mike Farwell with Brent Pedersen
Head coach Troy Smith must have said the right things during the second intermission, evident by the Rangers strong play early in the third. Nick Magyar tied things up at two early in the period with his 17th goal of the season. However the game was tied for less than two minutes when Plymouth scored to take the lead, and later added another.
It was, for the most part, a fast paced hard hitting game with many shots and scoring chances. The Rangers had the advantage in that category, out shooting the Whalers 37-21. But missed chances, coupled with the weight and pressure of the game on a young team are to blame for the loss. As well, Plymouth played a very efficient game and got things done when it came down to it.
The absence of the gritty Max Iafrate on the blue line, and Justin Bailey along with his team leading 25 goals and 43 points no doubt hurt the club.
With eight games left on the schedule, three at home against Guelph, London and Windsor, and five on the road against Saginaw, Sault Ste. Marie, Erie, Guelph and Sarnia, the teams playoff hopes are in the hands of the Whalers as much as their own.
The Rangers are in action next this Friday night in Saginaw against the Spirit.
