Game Recap: KGN (1) at PBO (5)

The Kingston Frontenacs (4-2-0-1) took a 5-1 road loss versus the East Division rival Peterborough Petes (5-2-1-0) on Thursday night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The first of the eight regular-season matchups saw Fronts points leader Linus Hemstrom open the scoring before the Petes scored five consecutive markers to end Kingston’s mini three-game win streak. Tucker Robertson scored a pair including a late game penalty-shot tally, with J.R. Avon, Jax Dubois and Justin DeZoete also tallying for the Petes. It was the first game the Fronts gave up more than two goal against in four games.

The teams will meet again Friday night in Kingston to close out back-to-back games against one another.

A pair of three-win goaltenders opposed each other with Ivan Zhigalov starring again in the Fronts crease making 37 saves on 42 shots as an arguable star of the game. The Colorado Avalanche draftee was excellent in the opening frame with 15 saves including two excellent stops with a save-of-the-week candidate making a spread-eagled toe save with left 3:12 left and a big stop on a late Petes powerplay to help take a 1-0 lead to first intermission.

Veteran Michael Simpson faced 28 Kingston shots in a battle of two of the best stoppers in the league, beaten only by an early opening period marker by Hemström.

Things got physical early with a big hit on Jackson Stewart by Petes defender Artem Guryev in the neutral zone leading to a scrap between Tommy Budnick, coming to his teammates aid, and Guryev with Kingston receiving an extra two for instigation. Guryev received a major and game misconduct, in addition to a fighting major, on the play just 49 seconds into the game giving Kingston a three-minute man advantage. Fronts Braden Hache made a board-rattling hit later in the stanza on Petes defender Sam Mayer with Kingston not giving an inch.

The Petes did a good job shutting down five minutes of powerplay time for Kingston in the opening period, allowing just six shots on Simpson, but Kingston took a one-goal lead to the first intermission. Linus Hemström (4) scored moments after a second Kingston powerplay ended for a 1-0 score on the Fronts third shot on net. Hemström extended a team-high point streak to five games (3G,5A) and took over the team-lead in points firing a nice snapshot past Simpson. Quinton Burns assisted on the tally at 12:53.

The Petes tied the game finally on an 18^th shot early in the second period with a Mayer blast Zhigalov saved but couldn’t stop a rebound chance J.R. Avon (5) banged in for the 1-1 score. Brian Zanetti got an assist with Mayer at 3:20 for the first of five straight goals for Peterborough.

Zhigalov made a nice glove save off Seattle Kraken draftee Tucker Robertson on the Petes second man advantage shortly after the tying goal stopping 30 shots through 40 minutes to keep the Fronts within a goal heading to the final period, but the Petes added a trio of goals in the final period despite Zhigalov continuing solid play.

Robertson (4) made a perfect shot off the post and in for a 2-1 Petes lead on their third powerplay, ending a streak of 19 straight penalties killed for Kingston. Avon got a second point of the game with Connor Lockhart also assisting on the game winning goal at 14:08 of the middle period.

With just over five minutes left, Chase Stillman was stoned by Zhigalov on his 36^th save to keep the Fronts with a chance to tie it late, but an unfortunate bounce for the goaltender saw the Petes take a 3-1 lead moments later. A bouncing puck redirected off Jax Dubois (1) on his way to the net finding its way in at 14:56 for the insurance marker. The home side added a late tally by Justin Dezoete (3) before Robertson scored his second of the game on a late penalty shot for the 5-1 final.

Jackson Stewart did not return after the hit by Guryev in the first period.

 

Scorers:

KGN: Hemstrom (4)

PBO: Avon (5), Robertson (5,6), Dubois (1), DeZeote (3)

 

Powerplays:

KGN (0/5)

PBO (1/4)

 

BMW Kingston Hardest Worker:

Tommy Budnick

 

Three Star Awards:

1. Avon – PBO (1G,1A)
2. Robertson PBO – (2G)
3. Donovan McCoy – PBO (3 SOG)

 

Fronts Notes:

 

• F Linus Hemström – extended to five-game pt streak (3G,5A)

 

Team Stat Pack – GP (7) (4-2-0-1) 9 pts

Leaders:

Goals – Arcuri – T-3^rd OHL (6), Hemström (4), Outwater, Soto, Hughes, Cavallin (2)

Assists – Hemström (5), Frasca, Outwater (4), Soto (3)

Points – Hemström (9), Arcuri (8), Outwater (6)

SOG – Arcuri (34), Hemström (20), Hughes (18)

Plus/Minus – Hache, Hemström (+4), Roger, Soto, Outwater, McGowan (+3)

PIMs – Stewart – 1^st OHL (22), Hache (15), Budnick (13)

 

On The Front

The next home game is a rematch against the Peterborough Petes tomorrow, Friday, October 21, 2022, at 7:00 pm at Leon’s Centre. Join us for Halloween night! The Fronts head back on the road to Tribute Communities Centre on Sunday, October 22, facing-off with the Oshawa Generals at 6:05 pm.

96.3 Big FM and 104.3 Fresh Radio are your exclusive home for play-by-play with Jim Gilchrist and Kingston Frontenacs Hockey! Fans can listen live to all the games at https://frontenacs.leanplayer.com/

Fans are encouraged to follow the team’s social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and IG for live updates!

All home game tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.ca or by visiting the Leon’s Centre box office at 1 The Tragically Hip Way. The box office is open Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm and 2 hours before puck drop on home game days. Group tickets, Flex Packs and season ticket memberships are available at www.kingstonfrontenacs.com.