Rangers open up gap in chase for home ice in CJHL playoffs

The Rangers played in all kinds of close games in the second half of the month with five consecutive contests decided by one goal – they posted a 3-0-2 record in that stretch – until the run ended with a 5-2 loss to Pembroke on Jan. 31.

The defeat was the first regulation loss for goalie Dylan Ellis, who was acquired at the trade deadline via the Ontario Junior ‘A’ Hockey League and has posted a 4-1-2 record with Gloucester.

The Rangers started January by blowing out four opponents by a combined score of 33-8, which helped them build a bit of a gap between themselves and three clubs chasing them for home-ice advantage come playoff time – Ottawa, Nepean and Cumberland.

Gloucester currently sits fourth at 62 points with a dozen games left in its regular season, while Nepean has 57, Ottawa 57, and Cumberland 55.

The Cumberland Grads, meanwhile, blanked Kanata 2-0 last night on the strength of powerplay goals by Michael Borkowski and Kevin Tansey. On the heels of four regulation losses and two in overtime, it was the Grads’ first victory since their top two scorers were dealt away at the trade deadline.

Cumberland plays on the road tonight in Nepean, while Gloucester plays in Hawkesbury on Friday.

The Grads’ next home game will be a rematch against former No. 2 scorer Mitch Gallant, who visits Navan Memorial Centre with the Pembroke Lumber Kings on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m.

Gloucester hosts Nepean twice in a row at Earl Armstrong Arena – Monday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 12, also at 7:30 p.m.