Senators Prospect Keeps Rangers Hopes Alive

Kitchener Rangers' alternate captain Luke Ellinas scored a hattrick in a must-win game for his squad last night [Natalie Shaver/OHL Images].

Last night, Senators prospect Luke Ellinas kept the Kitchener Rangers' season alive by scoring all three goals in their 3-0 win over the Windsor Spitfires. 

The Windsor offense, led by L.A. Kings prospect Liam Greentree and Washington Capitals prospect Ilya Protas, has had its way during the first three games of the series, scoring a total of 16 goals.

The offensive dominance is surprising given Kitchener's defensive prowess during the regular season. The Rangers allowed the second-fewest goals (183) while maintaining the second-best penalty kill in the OHL. 

In last night's game, the Rangers flipped the script by shutting out the Spitfires and registering the team's first shutout of the postseason. The Rangers outshot the Spitfires 35-24 with goaltender Jackson Parsons making all 24 saves. 

If Parsons can be recognized as the defensive star of the night, Ellinas was the other side of the coin.

He scored the eventual game winner early in the second frame on a bad-angle shot that found a small hole in Joey Costanzo's armor.  

Frontenacs Rally Late In Game Three To Win On Home IceFrontenacs Rally Late In Game Three To Win On Home IceFacing the dire prospect of going down 0-3 in the second round of the OHL PLayoffs, the Kingston Frontenacs found a way to win last night. They defeated the Barrie Colts 5-3 on home ice.

On a rush later in the period, the Toronto native cut to the middle of the ice on the rush and fired a shot that once again wormed its way through Constanzo to extend the Kitchener lead. His third and final goal was an empty-netter scored moments before the final buzzer.

Ellinas seems to thrive on playoff hockey. He has never broken 40 points in his two-year OHL career. However, during last year's playoffs, he scored at nearly a point per game pace, while after last night, he is averaging more than a point per game in this year's playoffs. 

The Ottawa Senators drafted Ellinas in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft. While he still has a lot to learn, his tendency to score during the postseason should interest a team like Ottawa that will return to the NHL Playoffs for the first time since 2017.

During last night's contest, he had multiple scoring chances that didn't find the back of the net and consistently pushed the pace offensively for his team. 

Henry Mews' Commitment Shows Why The OHL Could Be In Trouble?Henry Mews' Commitment Shows Why The OHL Could Be In Trouble?Early yesterday evening, Calgary Flames prospect Henry Mews announced his commitment to the University of Michigan to play NCAA hockey next season. The unique decision shows how players are forging new paths in the wake of the NCAA's decision to make CHL players eligible for Division I hockey. 

While the win is sweet, the Rangers have a very long and hard road ahead if they want to make it out of the second round of the OHL Playoffs. They need to regroup quickly and come back ready to play in game five. They will be in do-or-die mode for the rest of this series.


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