Game Recap: Luca Romano Scores OT Winner To Take Commanding 3-0 Series Lead
Saginaw, MI. – Luca Romano and the Kitchener Rangers score on their 54th shot of the game to sink the Spirit in overtime and take a 3-0 series lead. Stepan Shurygin did his best in the Saginaw goal to keep the Kitchener Rangers off the board with a 50-save effort. Kitchener led on two occasions, first opening the scoring 88 seconds into the contest through Matthew Andnovoski’s second marker of the postseason and then midway through the second period, Alexander Bilecki opened his scoring account with his first of the playoffs. Both Kitchener goals through 40 minutes of play came from the backend. James Guo and Bode Stewart had responses for the home side as the game was tied 2-2 after the second period.
On their fifth power play opportunity of the game, Saginaw took their first lead of the game with 16:29 to play in regulation. Nikita Klepov let a one-time shot rip from the right face-off dot for his first goal on the playoffs. Saginaw held the lead for a while, until Gabriel Chiarot threw a seeing eye shot on net from the point to tie the game 3-3 with just over five minutes to play in regulation. In the overtime frame, the Rangers took their game to the Spirit, holding them without a shot. Then, at the 6:39 mark of the extra frame, Luca Romano jumped on a rebound in the slot to bury the game winner and hand Kitchener their third win of the series.
Scoring Summary:
First Period
KIT 1 – SAG 0
1:28 Matthew Andonovski (2) – Luca Romano
KIT 1 – SAG 1
14:54 James Guo (1) – Nikita Klepov
Second Period
KIT 2 – SAG 1
8:23 Alexander Bilecki (1) – Tanner Lam, Haeden Ellis
KIT 2 – SAG 2
18:25 Bode Stewart (1) – Egor Barabanov, James Guo
Third Period
KIT 2 – SAG 3 – PPG
3:31 Nikita Klepov (1) – Egor Barbanov, Levi Harper
KIT 3 – SAG 3
14:21 Gabriel Chiarot (2) – Carson Campbell, Cameron Reid
Overtime
KIT 4 – SAG 3 – GWG
6:39 Luca Romano (1) – Alexander Bilecki, Christian Humphreys
The Numbers Game:
Shots: KIT 54 – SAG 20
Power play: KIT 0/4 – SAG 1/5
FO%: KIT 59% – SAG 41%
The Starting Goalies:
Christian Kirsch (KIT) – 17/20 Saves, Three Goals Against, Win
Stepan Shurygin (SAG) – 50/54 Saves, Four Goals Against, Loss
UP NEXT:
After facing the Spirit in Game 3 on Tuesday, the Rangers will remain on the road for Game 4 at the Dow Event Centre on Thursday, April 2nd. Puck drop on Thursday is set for 7:05 p.m.
For media inquiries, contact:
Luca Lombardi
Manager, Communications and Community Relations
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
(416) 885-4510
