What: Kitchener Rangers (16-19-1-1) at Erie Otters (19-17-2-0)
When: Today, 7 p.m.
Where: Tullio Arena
On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)
Players to watch: Erie – LW Brandon Biggers (14 goals, 23 assists, 37 points), C Justin Hodgman (17-19-36), C Zack Torquato (16-17-33), C Ryan O’Reilly (7-27-34), G Shane Owen (5-3-0-0, 2.88 goals-against average, .914 save percentage); Kitchener – C Scott Timmins (24-22-46, 8 power-play goals), LW Chris MacKinnon (12-31-43), RW Jason Akeson (10-21-31), D Ben Shutron (3-22-25), RW Tyler Randell (13-7-20)
Fast facts: Erie – With a 4-1 win vs. Brampton on Friday, the Otters surpassed their win total from the 2007-08 season (18). … The Otters are 3-0 to start the second half. … With Owen in goal, they are 5-0 since G Jaroslav Janus joined Slovakia at the IIHF World Junior Championship. … The Otters have scored 15 goals in a three-game home winning streak. They also have won four of five and are 11-6-2-0 overall. … They hold a 3-1 lead in the eight-game season series with the Rangers, including 2-0 at home (4-0 on Sept. 27 and 4-2 on Oct. 25). … Hodgman has six goals in his past five games. … LW Sean Jones’ scoring drought stands at 12 straight games. … C/LW Andrew Yogan has nine goals and 14 points in 18 games with the Otters. … C/LW Greg McKegg remains with Team Ontario at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Port Alberni, British Columbia. He had one point and two penalty minutes in three outings entering a game vs. Pacific late Friday night. Kitchener – The Rangers, which lost many key regulars from their 2007-08 OHL championship team, ranks last in the Midwest Division and ninth in the conference. … They are 3-3-0-0 since trading leading scorer Brandon Mashinter to Belleville on Dec. 16. … Randell, acquired in the Mashinter deal, has three goals and five points in six games with the Rangers. … The Rangers are tied for 16th in the league with 118 goals scored. … G Josh Unice (4-10-0-0, 3.84 GAA, .880 save pct.) is Team USA’s backup at the World Juniors.
Up next: vs. London (Wednesday, 7 p.m.), at Owen Sound (Friday and Jan. 10, 7:30 p.m.)