Game Recap: Carson Rehkopf Says Good Knight
Game Summary: Kitchener handed London their first overtime loss of the season with Carson Rehkopf’s second goal of the game to send the Knights home. Kitchener found themselves trailing twice in the contest including going into the third period when they were down 3-2. Mitchell Martin recorded his first point since November 3rd, 2023, which was his second last game before getting injured on November 5th against the Knights. Matthew Sop assisted on the game-winner, to record a point on six of seven overtime wins, while scoring five of them.
Scoring Summary:
1st Period
LDN 1, KIT 0
13:29 Jacob Julien (24) – Ruslan Gazizov, Alec Leonard
London struck first off the stick of Jacob Julien in-tight on Jackson Parsons. Coming in off the breakout Alec Leonard dropped the puck back to Ruslan Gazizov at the point. Gazizov sent a pass down cross-ice to Julien who tapped the puck up and over the blocker side pad of Jackson Parsons.
2nd Period
LDN 2, KIT 0
5:04 Kasper Halttunen (29) – Max McCue, Kaleb Lawrence
Kasper Halttunen’s goal came off a crafty passing play allowing him to just deflect the puck in. Max McCue got the play started sending a pass down low to Kaleb Lawrence. Lawrence sent the puck back up to McCue who under pressure sent a backhand pass toward Halttunen. Halttunen didn’t do much as he put his stick on the puck deflecting it low blocker for London’s second of the game.
LDN 2, KIT 1
7:20 Luke Ellinas (10) – Max Dirracolo, Mitchell Martin
Luke Ellinas cut the lead in half scoring the Rangers’ first goal of the game off a rebound. Luca Romano won the faceoff allowing Mitchell Martin to shovel the puck back to the point where Max Dirracolo took it. Dirracolo fired the puck on the net where Michael Simpson made the original save. The puck bounced out in front of the net and Luke Ellinas found it tucking it in past a lunging Simpson.
LDN 2, KIT 2
14:34 Carson Rehkopf (48) – Eduard Šalé, Hunter Brzustewicz – PPG
The Rangers’ powerplay took control as Carson Rehkopf tied the game up with a wrist shot from the slot. A flurry of shots were stopped by Michael Simpson before the puck bounced out to Hunter Brzustewicz. He sent a cross-ice pass to Eduard Šalé, who sent it back across to Rehkopf. Rehkopf did not hold the puck for long before rocketing home the equalizing goal over the shoulder of Simpson.
LDN 3, KIT 2
19:02 Easton Cowan (30) – SHG
After six combined penalties Kitchener ended up on the powerplay. Easton Cowan took advantage in the Rangers zone picking off the puck and went in on a breakaway sniping top shelf on Jackson Parsons’ blocker side.
3rd Period
LDN 3, KIT 3
7:53 Matthew Andonovski (7) – Hunter Brzustewicz, Antonino Pugliese
Kitchener tied the game up as Matthew Andonovski sent a harmless wrist shot on the net from the point that went in untouched. Hunter Brzustewicz passed the puck to Andonovski, who walked the blueline before firing the wrist shot through traffic. The shot went over the blocker of Michael Simpson to tie the game.
Overtime
LDN 3, KIT 4
0:46 Carson Rehkopf (49) – Matthew Sop
Carson Rehkopf sent The Aud into a frenzy scoring the game-winning goal 46 seconds into overtime. Rehkopf sent the puck up to Matthew Sop at the London blueline. He then carried the puck into the zone and sent a nifty saucer pass back to Rehkopf to put him on a breakaway. On the breakaway, he scored five-hole and the Rangers bench met him to celebrate at centre ice.
The Stars:
First Star: Carson Rehkopf (2G)
Second Star: Matthew Andonovski (1G)
Third Star: Easton Cowan (1G)
The Goalies:
Michael Simpson recorded his first overtime loss in his 25-save performance. This moves his season record to 29-9-1-1. In net for Kitchener was Jackson Parsons who stopped 22 shots sent his way. With the overtime win his season record improved to 24-15-1-0.
The Numbers Game:
Shots: LDN 25, KIT 29
Powerplay: LDN 0-3, KIT 1-4
FO%: LDN 45.3%, KIT 54.7%
Up Next: Kitchener is back at home Sunday afternoon for an afternoon matchup against the Kingston Frontenacs. This is the only time Kingston will travel to Kitchener this season, this will also be the last time the two teams play in the campaign. The Rangers will also be honoring the 1981-82 Memorial Cup winning team, with 16 members of the team in attendance. Tickets for all Kitchener home games can be purchased at the box office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online here.
For inquiries, contact:
Lindsay Eastwood
Manager of Communications and Team Services
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
613-793-0168
[email protected]
Photo Credit: Tiffany Luke / Kitchener Rangers
