Game Recap: Kitchener Wraps up the Regular Season with Overtime Loss in Erie
Game Summary: The Rangers ended the regular season with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Erie Otters. Kitchener went up two goals early before giving up three straight to fall behind. Tanner Lam tied the game up just after halfway through the third to force overtime where back-and-forth action ended when Martin Misiak won the game for Erie. Three of six games between these two teams went to overtime, the Rangers winning the first two. Kitchener won the regular season series 4-2 against Erie and could potentially play them in the first round of the playoffs.
Adrian Misaljevic ended the regular season with a five-game point streak where he put up six assists in those games. While Hunter Brzustewicz tied the Rangers record for most points for a defenceman in a single season registering his 91st and 92nd points in the game. He joins Jason Gladney (Class of 1995) with 92 points.
Scoring Summary:
1st Period
ER 0, KIT 1
7:26 Luke Ellinas (16) – Matthew Sop, Adrian Misaljevic
Luke Ellinas found a loose puck in the crease to put the Rangers up early. Matthew Sop charged towards the net on the play with the puck, eventually putting it behind Ethan Fraser where it would slowly remain loose. Ellinas pounced on the puck pushing it in over the goal line to gain the lead.
ER 0, KIT 2
10:39 Antonino Pugliese (15) – Hunter Brzustewicz, Tristan Malboeuf
Antonino Pugliese banged home a rebound to double the lead for Kitchener. Hunter Brzustewicz took the puck from Tristan Malboeuf and went end-to-end before firing the puck off the pads of Ethan Fraser. Fraser made the save but the rebound bounced out to Pugliese, who buried it to put the Rangers up by two.
ER 1, KIT 2
13:45 Kaleb Smith (10)
Erie cut the lead back down to one as Kaleb Smith scored on a breakaway. Smith stole the puck in the neutral zone bringing himself one-on-one with Tristan Malboeuf. On the breakaway, he fired the puck five-hole and in.
2nd Period
ER 2, KIT 2
4:21 Dylan Edwards (22) – Sam Alfano
Dylan Edwards scored low blocker from the slot to even the game up at two goals apiece. Sam Alfano held the puck down in the corner to the glove side of Tristan Malboeuf. He sent a backhand no-look pass to Edwards in the slot who immediately fired it past Malboeuf.
ER 3, KIT 2
8:17 Pano Fimis (25) – Sam Alfano, Dylan Edwards
Pano Fimis found a loose puck in the crease to give Erie their first lead of the game. Sam Alfano fired the puck on Tristan Malboeuf from between the faceoff circles, squeaking in behind him through the five hole. Fimis banged in the loose puck that trickled behind Malboeuf for Erie’s third unanswered goal since falling behind 2-0 halfway through the first period.
3rd Period
ER 3, KIT 3
8:17 Tanner Lam (25) – Sam Alfano, Dylan Edwards
Tanner Lam tied the game up after a beautiful backhand feed from Hunter Brzustewicz. Brzustewicz found the loose puck in the neutral zone and fought through down into the Erie zone and behind their net. As he came out the other side, he sent a backhand pass to Lam sitting alone atop the Otters’ crease. Lam fired the puck low blocker on Ethan Fraser and into the twine.
Overtime
ER 4, KIT 3
3:22 Martin Misiak (23) – Owain Johnston
Martin Misiak won the game in overtime for Erie going short side on a two-on-one. Owain Johnston sent Misiak and Dylan Edwards onto the two-on-one with Hunter Brzustewicz who was the lone Ranger back. Electing to shoot rather than pass Misiak beat Tristan Malboeuf low blocker to end the game.
The Stars:
First Star: Martin Misiak (1G)
Second Star: Dylan Edwards (1G, 1A)
Third Star: Sam Alfano (2A)
The Goalies:
Ethan Fraser got the win for Erie as he made 19 stops on 22 shots to improve his record to 6-1-1-2 on the season. Tristan Malboeuf made 41 saves in the overtime loss to end his regular season with a 14-5-2 record.
The Numbers Game:
Shots: ER 45, KIT 22
Powerplay: ER 0-2, KIT 0-2
FO%: ER 42.4%, KIT 57.6%
Up Next: Today’s matchup wrapped up the regular season for both teams. With Erie’s win the Rangers will not know who they are playing in the first round of playoffs until the conclusion of tomorrow’s Guelph versus London game. If Guelph wins, the Rangers will play the Storm, if Guelph loses, the Rangers will play Erie. The first round of playoffs will begin Friday at the Aud either way against one of Kitchener’s division rivals. Secure your seats to games one and two 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