![Kitchener Rangers' alternate captain Luke Ellinas scored a hattrick in a must-win game for his squad last night [Natalie Shaver/OHL Images].](https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_hockey_news_articles_331/fdfd49b597479176117c9153d99b7ed8)
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 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?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.
The Abbotsford Canucks are getting some reinforcements ahead of the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. With the NHL regular season complete, the Vancouver Canucks assigned seven players to Abbotsford. The AHL Canucks still have two games on their schedule, and have a slim chance of finishing first in the Pacific Division.
The seven players returning to Abbotsford are Kirill Kudryavtsev, Victor Mancini, Aatu Räty, Linus Karlsson, Max Sasson, Ty Mueller and Nikita Tolopilo. Most of the players on the list were called up under emergency conditions, as Vancouver dealt with continual injuries down the stretch. Of note, defenceman Elias Pettersson is not listed as the Canucks did not send him down before the trade deadline, making him ineligible for the AHL Playoffs.
Some or all seven of the players could be in the lineup as early as Friday, when the AHL Canucks take on the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Abbotsford has already broken the franchise record for wins and points this season, and is three goals shy of setting the franchise record for most goals scored in a season. Puck drop for Friday's game is scheduled for 6:00 pm PT from Acrisure Arena.
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The first Battle of Ontario in the postseason since 2004 will begin on Sunday in Toronto.
The schedule for the well-anticipated Battle of Ontario, between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, has been announced.
The series will begin in Toronto on Sunday with Game 1 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Tuesday's Game 2 will start at 7:30 p.m. ET before the series shifts to Ottawa for Games 3 and 4. Below is the full schedule:
Sunday, April 20 - 7 p.m. Ottawa at Toronto
Tuesday, April 22 - 7:30 p.m. Ottawa at Toronto
Thursday, April 24 - 7 p.m. Toronto at Ottawa
Saturday, April 26 - 7 p.m. Toronto at Ottawa
*Tuesday, April 29 - TBD Ottawa at Toronto
*Thursday, May 1 - TBD Toronto at Ottawa
*Saturday, May 3 - TBD Ottawa at Toronto
On Tuesday, Toronto clinched the Atlantic Division title with a 4-0 win against the Buffalo Sabres, also locking in the Battle of Ontario. The Maple Leafs have lost all three games to the Senators this season and were outscored 9-3.
Maple Leafs 'Fairly Confident' Jake McCabe, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, David Kampf Will Be Ready For Game 1 Of Playoffs Against SenatorsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are confident they'll have their injured players back for Game 1 of the playoffs against the Ottawa Senators.
"They’re a really good team. They defend well, good special teams, good goalie, their D. They have a lot going for them," Morgan Rielly said on Thursday. "The next couple days will be important as we make a strategy and plan out what we want this to look like."
The last time Toronto and Ottawa played in the playoffs was in 2004. The Maple Leafs eliminated them in seven games before being eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round.
Since then, Toronto has won just one playoff series, against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023.
"It’s been a little while, so it should be really exciting. It’s playoff hockey, you get to play for the Stanley Cup," John Tavares said of the series.
"This is what you work for all summer long, coming into training camp and earn a place in the playoffs, and certainly for us to win the division, put ourselves in a good spot, we’re excited, and that’s what it’s all about."
'It's Going To Be An Absolute War': Maple Leafs Prepare For Intense Battle Of Ontario Playoffs Series Against Senators John Tavares has fond memories of watching the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Ottawa Senators in the early 2000s.
Toronto plays its final game of the regular season on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. The Maple Leafs will have two days to prepare before playing Game 1 on Sunday inside Scotiabank Arena.
"It’s a good one for sure. I wasn’t around back when it was going on, but we’re excited. That’s a very good team over there, like I told you guys before," Craig Berube said of Ottawa.
"It’s a young team that’s grown together. They added some veterans but overall, they’re a good hockey team with a lot of good skill on the front end and the back end, and they play a gritty game. It’ll be a tough series."
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LAS VEGAS -- The Vegas Golden Knights will host the Minnesota Wild on Easter Sunday, as the teams open their Western Conference playoff series at T-Mobile Arena at 7 pm pacific.
Vegas, which earned the Western Conference's No. 2 seed, earned home ice, after winning the Pacific Division. The Knights have the home-ice advantage against every team in the conference except the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets.
The Wild are the Western Conference's top Wild Card.
The Golden Knights and Minnesota have played three times this season, with Vegas sweeping the regular-season series.
The first meeting saw the Golden Knights defeat the Wild 3-2 on Dec. 15. The next two meetings were won more dominantly, but the Wild were also without star Kirill Kaprizov.
Vegas turned in victories of 4-1 and 5-1.
Game 2 returns to T-Mobile Arena with puck drop set for Tuesday night at 8 pm.
Games 3 and 4 will shift to St. Paul.
Game 3 will be on Thursday at 6 pm pacific, with Game 4 scheduled for 1 pm.
If Games 5-7 are necessary, they've been scheduled for April 29, May 1 and May 3, with start times to be announced.
Games 5 and 7 would be in Vegas, with Game 6 being played in Minnesota.
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