Game Recap: Trent Swick Sends Erie to the Brink of Elimination
Game Summary: Trent Swick sent the crowd home happy scoring in overtime to lift the Rangers to a 3-2 win. The goalies stole the show as the first goal didn’t come until the second period; they both were awarded stars of the game. Nine different Rangers recorded points on the Rangers goals as they put Erie on the brink of elimination going up 3-2 in the series.
Scoring Summary:
2nd Period
ER 0, KIT 1
3:30 Tanner Lam (1) – Hunter Brzustewicz, Cameron Mercer
Tanner Lam picked an unbelievable time to score his first career playoff goal to give Kitchener the lead and end the stalemate. Cameron Mercer recorded his first point in the playoffs as he passed the puck up to Hunter Brzustewicz at the point. Brzustewicz walked the line before firing a puck off the pads of Ben Gaudreau. The rebound bounced out to the slot where Lam picked it up and potted the goal-low glove.
ER 1, KIT 1
3:52 Pano Fimis (3) – Sam Alfano, Dylan Edwards
After some high-quality chances by the Rangers, they got caught low in the Erie zone. This allowed Erie to find themselves on a four-on-one as Sam Alfano brought the puck in with Hunter Brzustewicz as the lone Ranger back. Alfano sent a hard pass cross ice to Pano Fimis who one-timed it home passed a diving Jackson Parsons to even the game up at one.
3rd Period
ER 1, KIT 2
7:12 Matthew Sop (3) – Luke Ellinas, Cameron Reid
Kitchener native Matthew Sop put the Rangers on his back scoring on the breakaway to break the deadlock. Cameron Reid sent an outlet pass to Luke Ellinas in the neutral zone. Ellinas spotted Sop at the Erie blueline ready to pounce and sent the puck up to him. Sop charged in faking to his backhand before pulling it back to his forehand and tucking the puck across the goal line.
ER 2, KIT 2
9:56 Dylan Edwards (5) – Matthew Schaefer, Pano Fimis
Dylan Edwards brought the puck into the Rangers zone before dropping the puck to Matthew Schaefer who teed up a one-timer. The shot was blocked by Matthew Andonovski but bounced out back to Edwards who put it in past a recovering Jackson Parsons.
Overtime
ER 2, KIT 3
12:02 Trent Swick (1) – Filip Mešár, Carson Rehkopf
Trent Swick calls the game after finding a loose puck in the crease. Carson Rehkopf forechecked hard to keep the puck in before firing the puck off Ben Gaudreau. The rebound went into the corner where Filip Mešár flipped it off the back of Gaudreau. The puck stayed loose in the crease as Swick slashed it in to put the game to rest.
The Stars:
First Star: Ben Gaudreau (47 Saves, 3 GA)
Second Star: Trent Swick (1G)
Third Star: Jackson Parsons (31 Saves, 2 GA)
The Goalies:
Both goalies were close to unbeatable. Ben Gaudreau made his third appearance of the series in today’s action as he made 47 saves on 50 shots which lead to earning the first star. Jackson Parsons made 31 saves on 33 shots in his fifth start of the series and earned the third star of the game.
The Numbers Game:
Shots: ER 33, KIT 50
Powerplay: ER 0-1, KIT 0-1
FO%: ER 57.7%, KIT 42.3%
Up Next: The Rangers will take on the Otters in Erie on Tuesday, April 9th with a chance to end the series. If necessary, game 7 will take place at The Aud on April 10th at 8 pm. Stay tuned for ticket information on future playoff games.
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