Game Recap: Luca Romano Scores OT Winner To Secure Game 1 Victory
Kitchener, ON – Game one of the opening round of the playoffs did not disappoint with an action packed game at The Aud Friday night. Trent Swick led the Rangers with a three-point night and Luca Romano capped off the night with a stunning overtime winner.
Flint opened the scoring with 5:13 remaining in the first period for the lone goal of the period. The Rangers came out hot in the second period scoring twice in quick succession to take the lead. First, Trent Swick on the power play, followed by an Andrew Vermeulen snipe in the slot. Matthew Mania broke free for a breakaway goal to send the teams tied in to the second intermission. Trent Swick scored his second of the game to give Kitchener a late third period lead, but Nathan Aspinall scored a minute later to send the game to overtime. In the overtime frame, Luca Romano danced around a Flint defender and buried the game winner for the East Avenue Blue.
Attendance: 6,703
Scoring Summary:
1st Period
KIT 0, FLNT 1
14:47 Matthew Wang – Josh Colosimo
2nd Period
KIT 1, FLNT 1 – PPG
9:40 Trent Swick (1) – Adrian Misaljevic, Christian Humphreys
KIT 2, FLNT 1
10:57 Andrew Vermeulen (1) – Luca Romano
KIT 2, FLNT 2
13:24 Matthew Mania (1) – Nathan Aspinall, Jimmy Lombardi
3rd Period
KIT 3, FLNT 2
13:49 Trent Swick (2) – Christian Humphreys
KIT 3, FLNT 3
14:50 Nathan Aspinall (1) – Jimmy Lombardi, Kaden Pitre
Overtime
KIT 4, FLNT 3 – GWG
5:07 Luca Romano (1) – Adrian Misaljevic, Trent Swick
Three Stars of the Game:
First Star: Trent Swick (2G, 1A)
Second Star: Matthew Mania (FLNT)
Third Star: Luca Romano (GWG)
The Numbers Game:
Shots: KIT 33 – FLNT 29
Power play: KIT 1/2 – FLNT 0/3
FO%: KIT 48% – FLNT 52%
The Starting Goalies:
W: Jackson Parsons (KIT) – 26/29 Saves, Three Goals Against
L: Nathan Day (FLNT) – 29/33 Saves, Four Goals Against
UP NEXT:
After the Rangers open the OHL Playoffs on home ice for Game 1 on Friday, March 28th, they’ll wrap up the weekend on Sunday, March 30th, for Game 2 at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. Puck drop is set for 2:00 p.m. The club will then head to Flint for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday, April 1st and Thursday, April 3rd, at Dort Financial Center.
Secure your tickets for all Kitchener Rangers games at The Aud Box Office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online here.
Photo Credit: Tiffany Luke / Kitchener Rangers
For inquiries, contact:
Luca Lombardi
Communications Coordinator
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
416-885-4510
[email protected]
