The Parkland Rangers are struggling to find a consistent effort in recent games.
With just 14 skaters available, last Tuesday, the Rangers came up with a big 4-3 win over the visiting Central Plains Capitals.
Cade Legaarden had a goal and two assists to lead the Rangers offensively.
Dayson Martin, Quentin Fisk and Noah Smigelsky also scored for Parkland in support of Kyle Pelletier, who made 33 saves to record the win in goal.
Jaxon Hildebrand, Ethan Dion and Tryp Klassen replied for the Capitals, while Riley Foster made 19 saves in the loss.
Despite the return of some of their injured players back in the lineup, the Rangers came up with a lacklustre effort in a 4-1 loss to the Interlake Lightning, Saturday.
Blake Farthing scored twice and Cole Swanson had three assists to lead the Lightning attack.
Drew Russell and Will Van Norman had singles and Dylan McFadyen made 20 saves in goal.
Alex Campbell had Parkland’s only goal, while Mierau had a busy night in net, stopping 51 shots to keep the Rangers in the game.
On Sunday, with each team dressing just 15 skaters, the Lightning swept the two-game set from the Rangers with a 3-0 decision.
Mackenzie McPherson with two and Lucas Spencer scored for Interlake, while Seth Schaeffer made 34 saves to record the shutout.
Pelletier stopped 32 shots before he was pulled after allowing two goals in the first 1:03 of the third period. Mierau stopped all 12 shots he faced.
Rangers head coach Tom White said the team simply didn’t show up ready to play on Saturday.
“It was a bad scene. Nobody came to the rink ready. The focus wasn’t there and it showed,” he said.
“We didn’t deserve anything, yesterday. We didn’t work at all. It was just horrible yesterday.”
White was pleased with the effort on Sunday, noting the Rangers had a good first period.
“Ran into penalty trouble. But we worked hard enough. We didn’t get any bounces go our way today and I think that frustrated a few guys. But the effort was there. We just couldn’t bury on our chances,” he said.
The return of a few of the walking wounded will help as the Rangers try to right the ship going forward.
“It makes it a little less tiring for other guys, so we’re happy to have them back,” White said.
The Rangers will look for another good effort, tonight, when they end their six-game homestand against the Southwest Cougars at 7:15 p.m.
Parkland has just one game on the weekend, a Saturday afternoon affair with the Bruins in Winnipeg at 4 p.m.
In order to turn things around, White said the players just have to keep working hard.
“That’s all. Come to the rink ready to play. I think the guys did come to the rink ready today as the first period showed. We’ve just got to keep the band together and keep forging on here,” he said.
“It’s a long season. There’s lots of time here. We’re right in the thick of things here. We’ve just have a little bit of a hole to climb out of. Today was a step forward, I thought. We had a pretty good effort today. I was happy with what we did out there. We just couldn’t bury our chances, couldn’t get a bounce.”
