Gameday Preview: Greyhounds wrap up road schedule in Kitchener

The Soo Greyhounds wrap up their final road trip of the Ontario Hockey League regular season on Sunday afternoon in Kitchener when they take on the Rangers.

It marks the third of four meetings between the two clubs as the Rangers travel to Sault Ste. Marie next weekend on the final weekend of the regular season.

The two clubs split their previous two meetings.

The Greyhounds won the first meeting 4-2 thanks to a 39-save performance from goaltender Matt Murray. Sergey Tolchinsky scored a pair of goals in the win while Brandon Alderson had+ goal and an assist in the win. Dylan Staples had the other Greyhounds goal. Matt Puempel and Raked Faska scored for the Rangers in the loss.

In early November, the Rangers picked up a 3-1 win in Kitchener. Ben Thomson and Ryan Murphy had goal and an assist each in the win. Matt Puempel also scored.

Entering Sunday’s game, the Greyhounds are in a battle with the Sarnia Sting for sixth in the Western Conference. The two teams enter Sunday tied with 74 points. The Sting are also in action as they host the Guelph Storm. The Greyhounds and Sting also have an outside chance of catching Guelph for fifth but with four games left in the schedule, the Storm look to be comfortably set in the fifth seed with a five-point lead over the two teams.

The Rangers also have an outside chance to move up in the final eight days of the regular season. The Rangers are five points behind the Owen Sound Attack entering Sunday while the Attack have played one more game. Kitchener’s game in hand is Sunday’s contest with the Greyhounds. Behind Kitchener, Guelph is still within striking distance of the Rangers but the spread of four points may be too much to overcome.

On Sunday morning the Greyhounds announced they have recalled 1996-born defenceman Kyle Jenkins from the Oakville Blades after the Blades season ended earlier this weekend. Jenkins will not be in the lineup in Kitchener.

On the other side, the Rangers will be without veteran defenceman Ben Fanelli after he suffered a concussion after a hit by Terry Trafford on Friday night against Saginaw.

Puck drop this afternoon in Kitchener is set for 2 p.m.

Western Conference Standings

1. *London Knights – 99 points (four games remaining)
2. *Plymouth Whalers – 85 points (four games remaining)
3. *Owen Sound Attack – 88 points (three games remaining)
4. *Kitchener Rangers – 83 points (four games remaining)
5. *Guelph Storm – 79 points (four games remaining)
6. *Sarnia Sting – 74 points (four games remaining)
7. *Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – 74 points (four games remaining)
8. *Saginaw Spirit – 68 points (four games remaining)
9. Windsor Spitfires – 58 points (four games remaining)
10. Erie Otters – 44 points (three games remaining)

Eastern Conference Standings

1. *Belleville Bulls – 88 points (four games remaining)
2. *Barrie Colts – 86 points (four games remaining)
3. *Oshawa Generals – 82 points (four games remaining)
4. *Brampton Battalion – 69 points (five games remaining)
5. *Sudbury Wolves – 67 points (three games remaining)
6. *Niagara IceDogs – 64 points (four games remaining)
7. Mississauga Steelheads – 57 points (four games remaining)
8. Kingston Frontenacs – 55 points (five games remaining)
9. Peterborough Petes – 53 points (four games remaining)
10. Ottawa 67’s – 37 points (five games remaining)

The Barrie Colts (Central Division), Plymouth Whalers (West Division) and London Knights (Midwest Division) have all clinched top spot in their respective divisions. The Knights have also clinched top spot in the OHL.

In the Western Conference, the Windsor Spitfires and Erie Otters have officially eliminated from playoff contention while the Ottawa 67’s are out of the OHL playoff picture as well in the Eastern Conference.

The full OHL schedule on Sunday includes:

• Brampton vs. Oshawa (2 p.m.)
• Kingston vs. Mississauga (2 p.m.)
• Kitchener vs. Sault Ste. Marie (2 p.m.)
• Niagara vs. Barrie (2 p.m.)
• Plymouth vs. Saginaw (2 p.m.)
• Peterborough vs. Ottawa (2:05 p.m.)
• Sarnia vs. Guelph (2:05 p.m.)
• Windsor vs. London (2:05 p.m.)

For full results from Saturday's action in the OHL, click here.

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