In retrospect, the Kitchener Rangers might not have been the ideal opponent on which to unleash the rejigged Sudbury Wolves roster.

After dropping their first two games of the year, the league-leading Rangers had picked up at least a point in each and every one of their ensuing twelve games leading into their home encounter Friday night with a Sudbury team that had suddenly added 154 points of offense (2023-2024 stats) to their lineup.

But with limited time to work out the kinks in style of play and chemistry, the insertion of overage forward Ondrej Molnar (acquired in a trade from the Erie Otters) and Quentin Musty (returning to the team after requesting a trade when he was sent back to junior hockey by the San Jose Sharks, missing two weeks or so of action) did little to stave off a motivated Kitchener side.

Kitchener outscored Sudbury 3-1 in each of the first and second periods of play, doubling the visitors 8-4 in the end as Adrian Misaljevic netted the hat trick, giving him 12 goals on the season and trailing only Michael Misa (Saginaw - 17) and Porter Martone (Brampton - 15).

Matthew Andonovski, Luca Romano, Jakub Chromiak, Trent Swick and Cameron Reid rounded out the scoring for the winners while Quentin Musty, Nathan Villeneuve, Lucas Di Giantommaso and Luca Blonda, with his first OHL goal, replying for the Wolves.

Goaltender Finn Marshall was not aided a whole lot by a defensive effort that left something to be desired, surrendering seven goals against on 32 shots faced.

The Wolves picked up Molnar from the Otters on Friday in exchange for a pair of conditional third round picks: Niagara in 2026; North Bay in 2027.

After winning four of five games to bring their record to 7-4-0-0 last Saturday, the Pack have now dropped back to back decisions by scores of 6-3 (vs Ottawa 67's) and 8-4 last night.

The 14 goals allowed in two games stand in stark contrast to the 28 goals Wolves' goaltenders relinquished in the first 11 games of the year.

The local juniors will continue with a challenging three in three weekend, facing the Brantford Bulldogs (6-4-2-0) Saturday afternoon and taking on divisional rival Niagara Ice Dogs (10-4-0-0) on Sunday.

With Musty and Molnar in the lineup against Kitchener, Sudbury did not dress Henry Doucet (2024 - 3rd round pick - 11 GP this year) as well as 19 year-old free agent signing Tayjon Street (12 GPs).