Game Recap: Kitchener dominates Windsor in heated affair
Game Summary: Kitchener exploded scoring nine goals in a physical game, extending their win streak to six games. Despite giving up the first goal of the game the Rangers never looked back after Adrian Misaljevic gave the Blueshirts the lead. The combative contest had 60 combined penalty minutes, 35 minutes for Kitchener, and 25 minutes for Windsor. Kitchener’s special teams were perfect in the contest killing all eight penalties and scoring on all three powerplays. The Rangers scored on four of six shots in the second period to launch them to the victory.
Carson Rehkopf extended his OHL goals lead while registering his second hat trick of the year and added an assist for four points. Hunter Brzustewicz and Filip Mesar both registered a goal and two assists in the game while Antonino Pugliese recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, assist, and fight in the game.
Scoring Summary:
1st Period
WSR 1, KIT 0
6:49 AJ Spellacy (4) – Noah Morneau
Windsor got on the board first. Noah Morneau possessed the puck cutting toward the slot when he slid a pass over to AJ Spellacy. Spellacy shot the puck along the ice toward a readjusting and screened Jackson Parsons to beat him five-hole, giving Windsor the first goal of the game.
WSR 1, KIT 1
7:46 Hunter Brzustewicz (6) – Filip Mesar, Carson Rehkopf – PPG
Less than a minute later Kitchener went on the powerplay. Josef Eichler took a hooking penalty on the play following the Rangers’ first goal and Kitchener wasted no time scoring 24 seconds into the powerplay. Rehkopf sent the puck down to Mesar, who sent it cross-ice to Brzustewicz who sniped it top shelf blocker side to tie the game.
WSR 1, KIT 2
18:35 Adrian Misaljevic (15) – Matthew Sop, Luke Ellinas
After lots of sustained pressure in the Spitfires zone, Misaljevic gave Kitchener their first lead of the game. Down low in the zone Misaljevic found his own rebound and took it behind the net where he swung the puck around backhanded and scored on the wrap-around.
2nd Period
WSR 1, KIT 3
4:26 Kyle Morey (4) – Tanner Lam
Josef Eichler sent a pass up the wall that deflected off a Ranger in the corner and right to the stick of Morey alone in front of the net. Morey had no trouble burying his fourth of the season five-hole and extended the lead to two.
WSR 1, KIT 4
5:42 Carson Rehkopf (20) – Trent Swick, Hunter Brzustewicz
Rehkopf scored less than a minute later to score the Blueshirts’ fourth unanswered goal. Swick sent Rehkopf onto a breakaway where he charged in on Ian Michelone. Rehkopf lost the puck in tight however it squeaked past a sprawling Michelone and extended the Rangers lead.
WSR 1, KIT 5
8:23 Filip Mesar (5) – Matthew Sop – PPG
Kitchener scored their second powerplay goal of the night as Mesar and Sop went down on a two on one and Mesar sniped it by Michelone bardown.
WSR 1, KIT 6
14:44 Carson Rehkopf (21) – Hunter Brzustewicz
Rehkopf scored his second of the game and Kitchener’s sixth straight goal on a shot that just barely crept past the goal line. The goal was reviewed to confirm it crossed the line as Michelone saved nearly all of Rehkopf’s hard shot before it slowly rolled in and ended the goaltender’s night.
3rd Period
WSR 1, KIT 7
5:06 Trent Swick (8) – Tanner Lam, Filip Mesar – PPG
After a long pause in action due to multiple altercations, Kitchener was awarded a powerplay and scored their third powerplay goal of the game. Swick received the puck in the slot from Lam and one-timed in the back of the net.
WSR 1, KIT 8
5:53 Carson Rehkopf (22) – Antonino Pugliese, Simon Motew
Rehkopf received the puck along the glove side post from Pugliese and Rehkopf cut across the crease to bury his hat trick goal launching the Rangers to a seven-goal lead.
WSR 1, KIT 9
7:35 Antonino Pugliese (4) – SHG
Pugliese scored a shorthanded breakaway goal off a turnover at the Rangers’ blueline. Pugliese took the puck and never looked back before sniping home Kitchener’s ninth unanswered goal of the game.
WSR 2, KIT 9
19:56 Jack Nesbitt (2) – Owen Outwater
After a failed clearing attempt, Windsor held the puck in the Rangers’ corner. From there Outwater sent the puck to Nesbitt in the slot who one-timed it behind Parsons with four seconds remaining.
The Stars:
First Star: Carson Rehkopf (3G, 1A)
Second Star: Hunter Brzustewicz (1G, 2A)
Third Star: Filip Mesar (1G, 2A)
The Goalies:
Parsons entered the game leading the OHL in wins, goals-against average, and shutouts and was named last week’s goaltender of the week. He stayed strong in the win tonight, standing on his head early in the game before Kitchener found their legs. Parsons made 35 of 37 saves and improved his season record to 11 wins and 4 losses.
Michelone played the first 34:44 for the Spitfires giving up six goals on 19 shots before being pulled for Carter Froggett who made his OHL debut in the contest. Froggett made eight of the eleven saves required of him in relief.
The Numbers Game:
Shots: WSR 37, KIT 30
Powerplay: WSR 0-7, KIT 3-3
FO%: WSR 42.3%, KIT 57.7%
Up Next: Kitchener heads to Windsor tomorrow to complete thRehkop-and-home in an attempt to win their seventh straight game. Kitchener returns to the Aud Tuesday for a midweek match against the Erie Otters. This will be the first match between the two teams this season. Last season Kitchener split the season series 3-3. Tickets 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]
