After spending the better half of the season-series in 2006-'07 trying to dismantle each other's teams.  With many of the catalysts from previous year's battles now graduated, such as: Josh Beaulieu, Jakub Kindl, Steve Downie, and David Jarram, things have been a little more . . . sense this season.  But the fire still brews in many of the players.  Perhaps if nothing else the two teams have been one-upping each other of late, the Rangers took the first 4 games, before falling in an embarassing 9-3 loss in London, this time it was Kitchener's turn, no blowouts were in order, but two points at this point in the season would prove to be a valuable commodity, especially for the Knights who are pressing for third spot chasing either Windsor or Sault Ste. Marie.  This has been an odd year for formalities, Steve Mason was honoured in London and Matt Halischuk was welcomed with a rousing standing ovation.  This night it was Don Brankley's turn, after this season, Brankley's 38th with the London Knights, the colourful Knights' trainer will be retiring.  Dan LeBold, the longtime Rangers' trainer who is over a decade with Kitchener.  Brankley was presented with a commemorative crystal, and did receive a hearty cheer from Rangers' fans in attendance, and the odd London fan as well.

Nazem Kadri, who is rumoured to be joining the Knights as a delayed portion of the Steve Mason trade stole the show early in the game.  Only the 5th shift of the game and Kadri took the puck, did a toe-drag on Sean O'Connor an overage forward who's being used on the blueline and then proceeded to advance on netminder Jason Guy, who's played some tremendous hockey in his last three starts against the Rangers despite averaging 4 goals against, one of which was a win.  Guy got beat by Kadri's deke and the crowd quickly got to its feet, Sportsnet also an OHL feature for their highlights of the night in hockey.  The continuing feud between Mike Duco and Akim Aliu continued, resuming in the first period with the two taking healthy runs at each other.  Immediately after an offside whistle Duco was blasted from long distance into the London bench, Duco jumped to his feet and immediately took a shot at the face of Aliu, a scuffle ensued, and the most unlikely combatants emerged.  Alex Dzielski started in at Aliu before he was able to get any real shots in former linemate: Steven Tarasuk grabbed him and the two tussled with Dzielski landing on top after several punches were thrown.
 

Mike Duco's punch to Akim Aliu's face was a costly one.  The retaliation shot gave the Knights a late first period power play that enabled them to tie the game at a goal a piece.  O'Connor's blast found its way through a crowd as well as Mason's pads and into the net.  The Rangers would get off to a quick start in the second period though.  With many fans still trapped in the hall, Mike Duco dug the puck out of the corner and fed it to Scott Tregunna who chipped a one-timer into the top corner of the net after the puck crossed the top of the crease.  It may have not been the best goal of the night, but the most exaggerated goal celeration went to Ben Shutron who's been out of the lineup most of the season with the Kingston Frontenacs before arriving in Kitchener.  Shutron's point blast on the power play found its way through Guy to restore the lead for the Rangers, who never trailed in this game.  The goal wasn't the only positive sign in Shutron's play.  His play and that of his defence partner: Alex Dzielski was easily at its highest level since Shutron has started playing with the Rangers with and without the puck.  Though the Rangers did go up two goals, they struggled with the man advantage, failing to capitalize on a long two man advantage in the first period, they finished 1 for 7.

Brandon Mashinter closed the scoring, oddly enough just past the game's halfway mark in the second period.  He took a really nice feed from Scott Timmins, burying it past Guy for his 7th of the season and 2nd in three games.  The third period did feature a couple of tilts, first Spencer Anderson and Tony DeHart, and for the second time this season Mike Mascioli tussled with Garrett Hunter in and much more closely contested match, than Mascioli's one-punch knock-out victory on London ice.  The Rangers held shooting edges in all three periods, for an overall advantage of 41-22 over the Knights.  Unfortuantely for the telelvision audience the second and third periods did not feature any of the intensity that the first period brought.  One highlight for the Rangers was their netminder: Steve Mason, who came out past the faceoff circles to thwart a breakaway, and then was calm in dishing the puck to a waiting Ranger along the boards, once the London forward had put himself offside.