* Tough situation: Right wing Stanislav Polodna played his second straight game since clearing waivers this past week. If he plays today at Mississauga St. Michael’s, the club needs to place him on waivers again, according to OHL rules. Meanwhile, Polodna continues to play without knowing when he will return to his native Czech Republic to begin his professional career. He hasn’t heard from his agent, Polodna said.
“It’s hard,” he said. “My (thoughts) are in (the) Czech (Republic). Hopefully I’ll go home soon.”
* Instant attraction: Left wing Sean Jones, acquired from Sault Ste. Marie on Wednesday, already is fond of Erie. “I love it. It’s unreal,” he said before Saturday’s game. He also has grown more comfortable around the team. “I could really enjoy it here,” he said.
* Comfort zone: Newly acquired defenseman Paul Cianfrini said he is a student of the game. “It was tough coming in here not knowing (the system),” he said before Friday’s practice.
But on Saturday, he felt more comfortable, especially with the club’s penalty kill. Belleville, his former team, attacks forwards below the goal line with defensemen. But the Otters’ defensemen remain in their zones in that same situation, he said. “(The last) couple of days in Erie has done lots (of help),” he said.
* Crowded net?: Peter DeBoer, Kitchener’s coach/general manager, said overage goaltender John Murray (broken collarbone) could play his first game of the season in the next seven to 10 days. Murray, one of the OHL’s top goaltenders last season (40-9-1-2, 2.58, .909, 5 SO) would join rookies Josh Unice and Mavric Parks, arguably the league’s top tandem this season, on the roster.
However, before making any decisions, DeBoer wants to learn if Unice will join Team USA for the IIHF World Junior Championship. “It’s a bridge we’re not going to cross until we have to,” DeBoer said.
* Surprising start: DeBoer endured some sleepless nights last summer after learning the Rangers would host the 2008 Memorial Cup in the spring. He heard the whispers about other clubs, such as Oshawa and Sarnia, having more competitive teams for the CHL’s championship tournament. “We felt the pressure to win right off the bat,” DeBoer said. “The guys have done that. They’ve been easy to motivate.”
* Deadly combination: The Rangers’ top line of Justin Azevedo, Matt Halischuk and Nick Spaling entered Saturday’s game with 50 goals and 133 points. Individually, they aren’t superstars, DeBoer said. “But put them together and they end up being a superstar line. That’s a nice line to have as a coach.”
* Around the rink: The Otters scratched defensemen Josh Kidd (pelvis), Mitch Gaulton (left elbow) and Brian Shaw. … Kitchener scratched Murray, defensemen Steve Jensen and Myles Barbieri, left wings Josh Schram, Spencer Anderson and Alexei Dostoinov and center Jordan Hardy. Dostoinov remains with the Russian club playing in the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge.

– Victor Fernandes