‘We have to play smarter,’ Rangers suffer loss at home in Game 2 against Otters

A rough afternoon for the Kitchener Rangers, with a loss to Erie at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Easter Sunday.

The Rangers came out strong with two quick goals, but were not able to keep the lead. It was a 7-4 win for the Otters in the end.

CityNews 570’s Colour Commentator Paul Fixter said the Rangers couldn’t keep a hold on the puck, even though Erie had four major players out of their lineup.

“Probably four or five of the Erie goals were a direct result of poor puck management, and that is far too many … That is an easy fix, you just have to make better decisions when you have the puck.”

Head Coach Jussi Ahokas said those turnovers cost them the game, adding when you score four goals, especially in the playoffs, you should be winning the game.

“You start feeling good and then you don’t play smart, our puck management was why we lost today … we have to be smarter with the puck and defend better.”

Fixter noted it’s not all bad news, though, with the Rangers’ special teams still looking strong.

“The fact that the Rangers went five-for-five on the penalty kill is huge, but they also got another two power play goals, to add to the two that they got on Friday night, that’s four power play goals in two games, that is good sign.”

The series is now tied 1-1, with Games 3, 4 and 5 all lined up for this week.

The team is in Pennsylvania Tuesday and Thursday, and then back at the Aud on Friday.

All those games can be heard live on CityNews 570.

Tickets for Game 5 at home go on sale Monday at 10 a.m.