Game Recap: Saginaw comes from behind in 5-2 Win over Kitchener
Game Summary: Kitchener was up 2-0 halfway through the contest, however, Saginaw rallied scoring five unanswered goals to win 5-2. This marks the Rangers’ longest losing streak of the season. They will look to bounce back on Tuesday against the London Knights.
Matthew Sop and Luca Romano scored the goals for Kitchener. This was Sop’s second goal in as many nights, he is second on the team in goals with 28.
Scoring Summary:
1st Period
SAG 0, KIT 1
18:35 Luca Romano (6)
Luca Romano got the game’s first goal. He stripped Rodwin Dionicio of the puck at centre ice and carried it into the Saginaw zone. Cutting down towards the top of the glove-side faceoff circle he rifled the puck past the blocker of Andrew Oke, putting Kitchener up one late in the first.
2nd Period
SAG 0, KIT 2
10:09 Matthew Sop (28) – Adrian Misaljevic
Matthew Sop extended Kitchener’s lead to two with a slick move in tight. Carson Campbell poked the puck at the blueline to keep it in Saginaw’s zone. The puck landed on Adrian Misaljevic’s stick who slipped a pass to Sop who was all alone in front of the net. Sop faked to his forehand and cut back to his backhand, tricking Andrew Oke and tucking it into the net.
SAG 1, KIT 2
11:05 Joey Willis (7) – Matyas Sapovaliv
Joey Willis cut the lead in half with a goal less than a minute after Matthew Sop’s. An offensive zone draw for Saginaw was where Matyas Sapovaliv tied up Cameron Mercer. Willis cut in from the wing and stole the puck, cutting back towards Tristan Malboeuf in the process. Under pressure, he put the puck onto his backhand and fired it on the net and in for Saginaw’s first of the game.
3rd Period
SAG 2, KIT 2
8:07 Hunter Haight (20) – Calem Mangone, Jorian Donovan
The Spirit tied the game up with a goal scored by Hunter Haight. A cycle from high to low allowed Calem Mangone to send a backhand pass across the ice to Haight who immediately sent the puck on the glove side on Malboeuf. The goal was reviewed for goalie interference, however, the call on the ice stood, to tie the game.
SAG 3, KIT 2
11:13 Joey Willis (8) – Rodwin Dionicio, Calem Mangone
Saginaw took their first lead of the game as Joey Willis scored his second of the night. Rodwin Dionicio circled atop the faceoff circle and cut down towards the slot into traffic. He sent a pass past the collapsing Rangers defenders to Joey Willis who took a one-time slapshot from the opposite faceoff circle. The shot beat Malboeuf’s glove side for Saginaw’s third unanswered of the game.
SAG 4, KIT 2
15:00 Michael Misa (23)
Michael Misa was launched onto a two-on-one with Alex Christopoulos joining him while Carson Rehkopf was the Rangers’ last man back defending. Misa opted to shoot the puck and scored to extend their lead.
SAG 5, KIT 2
18:00 Calem Mangone (15) – Matyas Sapovaliv – ENG
Calem Mangone received the puck after Matyas Sapovaliv won the defensive zone draw. Mangone skated the puck to centre ice and shot it into the empty net to seal the win for Saginaw.
The Stars:
First Star: Joey Willis (2G)
Second Star: Calem Mangone (1G, 2A)
Third Star: Hunter Haight (1G)
The Goalies:
Andrew Oke made 16 saves on 18 shots in the win. He improved his record to 20-8-0-0 on the season. Tristan Malboeuf made 32 of 36 potential saves in the contest. His record moved to 12-4-1-0 on the year.
The Numbers Game:
Shots: SAG 37, KIT 18
Powerplay: SAG 0-2, KIT 0-1
FO%: SAG 75.4%, KIT 24.6%
Up Next: Kitchener returns home Tuesday for a rematch against the London Knights. The Knights stole four points against the Rangers last weekend. The second match was chippy with 35 combined penalties assessed between the two teams. Tickets for all Rangers 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: Natalie Shaver / OHL Images
