Game Recap: It was an Offence Showcase in 6-2 Win over Erie
Game Summary: Carson Rehkopf recorded a hat trick en route to a 6-2 win at home against Erie. Kitchener never looked back after taking the lead just over five minutes into the second period. The Rangers have now won all four games against Erie this season and will face them two more times on February 3rd and March 23rd.
Today marked the first game as a Kitchener Ranger for Olivier Savard, he was acquired earlier this week as the Rangers made a deadline deal to bolster their roster. Filip Mesar also returned from the World Juniors in today’s matchup, he recorded an assist in his first game back. Five Rangers recorded multi-point nights while Rehkopf (3G), Trent Swick (3A), and Matthew Sop (2G, 1A) all led the team in points. It only took Rehkopf 42 seconds to retake the OHL goals lead and record his second straight game with a hat trick. All while Tristan Malboeuf recorded his third straight win in starting in net.
Scoring Summary:
1st Period
ER 0, KIT 1
0:42 Carson Rehkopf (35) – Trent Swick, Hunter Brzustewicz
On the Rangers’ first shot of the game, Carson Rehkopf sniped home the puck getting The Aud rockin’ early. Rehkopf skated down into the Erie zone, walking to the blocker side faceoff circle. He rifled the puck over Jacob Gibbons’ blocker shoulder to score his fourth goal in his past two games.
2nd Period
ER 1, KIT 1
4:16 Pano Fimis (12) – Martin Misiak, Brett Bressette – Powerplay
Erie tied the game up on the powerplay on a fluke goal. The Otters went on the powerplay due to a roughing penalty assessed to Justin Bottineau at 4:07. On the powerplay, Pano Fimis held the puck in the corner and attempted to center it. On the slip pass it deflected off a Rangers’ stick and past Tristan Malboeuf to tie the game.
ER 1, KIT 2
5:30 Matthew Sop (25) – Adrian Misaljevic, Hunter Brzustewicz
Matthew Sop responded by scoring 1:14 later. Sop carried the puck into the zone and skated horizontally atop the Erie blueline. He cut down towards the blocker side faceoff circle and sent a shot on net. The puck squeaked through Gibbons and put Kitchener back on top.
ER 1, KIT 3
9:04 Carson Rehkopf (36) – Filip Mesar, Trent Swick
Carson Rehkopf put Kitchener up two with his second of the night. Filip Mesar sent Rehkopf in with a nice feed through the neutral zone on the breakout. Rehkopf walked into the zone and used his lethal shot to score glove side.
ER 2, KIT 3
16:00 Dylan Edwards (4) – Matthew Schaefer, Pano Fimis
Erie cut the lead back to one off a nice passing play capped off by Dylan Edwards. Pano Fimis sent the puck up to the point to Matthew Schaefer. Schaefer spotted Edwards wide open below Malboeuf’s glove side faceoff circle. All alone Edwards put the puck past a sprawling Malboeuf cutting the lead in half.
ER 2, KIT 4
18:59 Adrian Misaljevic (22) – Matthew Sop, Cameron Reid
On a quick breakout, Matthew Sop and Adrian Misaljevic found themselves on a two-on-one. Sop sent a nice pass to Misaljevic who faked his forehand before cutting back to his backhand and slipping it past Gibbons.
3rd Period
ER 2, KIT 5
18:19 Carson Rehkopf (37) – Trent Swick, Simon Motew
Back-to-back hattricks for Carson Rehkopf as he registered his second hattrick in his last two games with an empty netter to cap off the three-goal performance. Simon Motew cleared the zone to Trent Swick who quickly tapped it up to the Erie blueline to Rehkopf. He shot it in from the blueline for his third of the game.
ER 2, KIT 6
18:53 Matthew Sop (26) – Luke Ellinas, Carson Campbell
A faceoff win in the Erie zone by Matthew Sop sent the puck back to Carson Campbell. He fired it on the net, deflected by Luke Ellinas on the way. The original stop was made but the rebound was found and buried by Sop to put Kitchener up four to end the night.
The Stars:
First Star: Carson Rehkopf (3G)
Second Star: Hunter Brzustewicz (2A)
Third Star: Dylan Edwards (1G)
The Goalies:
In net for Erie was Jacob Gibbons who stopped 30 of 35 shots. His record moves to 0-4-1 (W-L-OTL). On the other end of the ice was Tristan Malboeuf who improved his record to 11-2-1 (W-L-OTL) while making 21 of 23 potential saves.
The Numbers Game:
Shots: ER 23, KIT 36
Powerplay: ER 1-3, KIT 0-2
FO%: ER 38.6%, KIT 61.4%
Up Next: Kitchener will play their second home game of the weekend on Sunday against the Ottawa 67’s. This will be the first time these two teams will play each other this season. The Rangers will host former NHLer and popular internet personality Paul Bissonnette. For more information on the “Biz Night” as well as tickets to watch the game with him visit here. Tickets are going fast with only few available at The Aud box office sponsored by White Way Plumbing and online here.
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The Kitchener Rangers will be joined by hockey personality Paul Bissonnette also known as “BizNasty” for two different fan experiences and a special puck drop at the game on Sunday, January 14th vs. the Ottawa 67’s at 2 pm. These include a pre-game event in Subscribers Lounge with a mingle and Q+A and a separate event in the Blueline Club to watch the game and interact with Biz over some food and good hockey.
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE:
Biz Night Subscribers Lounge Experience
The Biz Night Blueline Club Experience
For inquiries, contact:
Lindsay Eastwood
Manager of Communications and Team Services
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
613-793-0168
leastwood@kitchenerrangers.com
Photo Credit: Tiffany Luke / Kitchener Rangers
