The Erie Otters (5-8-2-1) were shutout for the second time this season as their power play lacked power and their penalty kill couldn’t kill in a 4-0 loss to the OHL-best Kitchener Rangers (11-1-1-2).

The Rangers power play went 4-for-6 while the Otters could not convert on seven power play opportunities in the loss. Former Otters draft pick Brandon Maxwell also denied the Otters a goal with 39 saves for the Rangers.

Jeff Skinner scored the lone goal of the first period on the power play. The Rangers forward took a pass from Chris MacKinnon in the slot and fired it between the legs of Shane Owen to break the ice at 14:06.

Skinner scored his second goal of the game on the power play after the Otters were unable to convert on two man advantages of their own. Skinner shot a one-timer off a pass from MacKinnon at 5:23.

A scary moment occurred at the 7:52 mark of the second period when Otters forward Mike Liambas checked Ben Fanelli into the end boards. Fanelli lay motionless on the ice for several minutes, and had to be carted off after 15 minutes. The delay totaled 45 minutes, resulting in a match penalty for Liambas and a five-minute power play for the Rangers.

The Rangers managed one goal from the ensuing power play, courtesy of Jeremy Morin, whose shot from the bottom of the left circle was good for his 13th tally of the season at 12:34.

Skinner completed his hat trick with another power play goal, scored with 3:21 remaining in the game. Skinner was untouched in the right circle when he fired a shot that rung off the glove side post of Owen and into the net.

Despite the loss, Owen was solid for the Otters, making 35 saves and keeping the game close throughout the night.