Rangers lose a close one to Spitfires, slip to third overall in OHL rankings

The Kitchener Rangers are no longer the top team in the OHL as they fell to the Windsor Spitfires at the Kitchener Aud on Friday by a score of 3-1.

Kitchener’s lone goal came in the first period when defenseman Alexander Bilecki scored his first career OHL goal just over halfway through the period. Windsor would come back to tie the game late in the second period and took the lead late in the third period to seal the victory.

Jackson Parsons received first-start honours, stopping 37/39 shots.

The game is the second 3-1 loss in a row, after losing to the London Knights on November 19.

570 colour commentator Paul Fixter said the Rangers had one of the best periods of the year in the first, but they did not follow up on it in the second or third.

“I think they need to get more out of their veteran group for this team to get out of this funk,” said Fixter. “Obviously, Parsons has given them everything, but there’s other players that need to bring more if they want to get out of this funk.

Currently, the Rangers sit second in the Midwest division, third in the Western Conference, and third overall in the OHL standings.

The Rangers will be on the road on Saturday, looking to get back in the win column as they take on the Erie Otters.

Puck drop is at 7 p.m. and you can catch all the action on 570 News Radio starting at 6:30 p.m. with the pregame show with Mike Farwell and Paul Fixter.