Richardson perfect, but Rangers lose Hall and McHugh

It was a statement game for the Kitchener Rangers.

The Blueshirts spanked their Highway 7 rival Guelph Storm 5-0 Friday at The Aud.

But, the story for Rangers fans was watching overage defenseman Connor Hall leave the game early in the first period.

“Connor hurt his shoulder again,” said Rangers head coach Jay McKee. “He’ll see the doctors, but I don’t think it’s a good situation.”

Hall’s departure comes in just his fourth game of the season. Last year, his campaign ended early after opting for surgery on his right shoulder. The year before, it was surgery on his left shoulder.

If this is the end for the overage Cambridge native, it's heart-breaking, to say the least. The once-promising NHL prospect was drafted in the third round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016.

He wasn’t the only player the Rangers lost in the win, Friday.

“Nick McHugh took a shot. The puck came over the boards and hit him right in the mouth,” said McKee. “He’s missing up to half-a-dozen teeth. I don't think we'll have him for the weekend either.”

Despite two of the team's best penalty-killers out of the lineup for the bulk of the game, the team excelled while shorthanded against the OHL’s top power play, killing off all seven Storm opportunities.

“Power play was excellent, the penalty kill was superb, [Richardson] was great in net, [Alex] Lipanov gets on the board for the first time this year, Eric Guest scores his first goal, Mike Petizian gets his first, our kids were flying,” said McKee.

“It was a complete game.”

The incomplete roster for the Rangers takes on the Knights in London this afternoon, before a rematch in Guelph on Sunday.

Pregame this afternoon on 570 NEWS is at 3:00 p.m.