Game Recap: Kitchener Defeated by Ottawa in the Final Minutes
Game Summary: Kitchener led this tightly-contested game for the majority, scoring 3:57 into the game. The Rangers held two one-goal leads but the 67’s scored twice in the final five minutes of the third, netting the game-winner with 1:29 to go in the game. Carson Rehkopf is heating up again, tallying three goals over the weekend, including his 40th goal of the year in today’s contest.
Scoring Summary:
1st Period
OTT 0, KIT 1
3:57 Adrian Misaljevic (23)
Adrian Misaljevic put the Rangers up one early as he intercepted a pass in the Rangers zone and brought himself on a breakaway. Ottawa won the faceoff in the Kitchener end. Adrian Misaljevic read the pass back to the point and exploded one-on-one against Ian Michelone. On the breakaway, Misaljevic faked to his backhand and tucked it in forehand with a beautiful tally to put Kitchener on the board.
2nd Period
OTT 1, KIT 1
18:56 Jack Dever (7) – Samuel Mayer, Brad Gardiner
Ottawa tied the game up late in the second frame off the stick of Jack Dever. Brad Gardiner cycled the puck up to the point to Samuel Mayer, who quickly sent a wrist shot on net creating a rebound. Dever found it, putting it in to even up the game.
3rd Period
OTT 1, KIT 2
10:43 Carson Rehkopf (40) – Eduard Šalé, Trent Swick
Carson Rehkopf scored his 40th goal to put the Rangers back on top just over halfway through the third period. The goal was scored one second after a penalty to Henry Mews expired. Eduard Šalé sent a pass up to the point where Rehkopf stood. He walked down into the slot and sniped it past Ian Michelone for the Rangers’ second goal of the game.
OTT 2, KIT 2
14:52 Luca Pinelli (35) – Chris Barlas, Matthew Mayich
A quick and efficient breakout by Ottawa led to Luca Pinelli retying the game at two. Matthew Mayich started the breakout sending a pass up to the blueline to Chris Barlas, who then sent a cross-ice pass to the opposite side of the blueline where Pinelli was posted. He skated the puck into the Kitchener zone and flipped the puck over the shoulder of Jackson Parsons.
OTT 3, KIT 2
18:31 Bradley Horner (3) – Cooper Foster, Frankie Marrelli
A loose puck down the side wall led to Cooper Foster taking possession. He took the puck and drove towards the net before sending a centering attempt towards the net. The puck bounced off Bradley Horner, who was crashing the net, and in past Jackson Parsons for Ottawa’s first lead of the game.
The Stars:
First Star: Luca Pinelli (1G)
Second Star: Carson Rehkopf (1G)
Third Star: Ian Michelone (23 Saves, 2 GA)
The Goalies:
Ian Michelone got the start for Ottawa as he stopped 23 of 25 shots and earned himself the third star of the game. He improved his season record to 12-7-3-1. Jackson Parsons had another strong start for Kitchener making 32 saves in the loss, moving his record to 19-14-1-0.
The Numbers Game:
Shots: OTT 35, KIT 25
Powerplay: OTT 0-5, KIT 0-3
FO%: OTT 56.6%, KIT 43.4%
Up Next: Kitchener will return to The Aud for a three-game homestand next week, starting Tuesday with a matchup against their Highway 7 rivals the Guelph Storm. The Rangers have won four of the five matchups against the Storm this season, including a recent late-game comeback with an overtime winner by Matthew Sop. On Friday the Blueshirts host the Mississauga Steelheads before the Sudbury Wolves come to town on Sunday. Each team making their only visit to The Aud this season. Tickets for all Kitchener home games can be purchased at The Aud 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: Richard Coffey
