Generals sweep regular season series with 3-2 win over Rangers
Domenico Commisso’s 18th goal of the season snapped a 2-2 tie and proved to be the game winner as the Oshawa Generals (32-26-3-0) downed the Kitchener Rangers (40-19-2-0), 3-2, in front of 7,083 fans at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Friday night.
The Generals rallied all the way back from a 2-0 deficit by scoring three unanswered goals on the way to their sixth straight win, tying a season-best mark by the club.
Cole Ceci (6-11-0-0) earned the win in goal, turning aside 34 of 36 Rangers’ shots on goal. Mario Culina (14-9-2-0) suffered the loss, despite another strong performance when called upon – which wasn’t often as he’s accustomed – as the Generals mustered just 22 shots on goal, Culina making 19 saves.
Michael Vukojevic appeared to open the game’s scoring with his first career Ontario Hockey League goal, but Jonathan Yantsis tipped the shot from the point to beat Ceci and give the home side a 1-0 lead at 5:44.
It was the lone goal of the first period, which saw the teams each tally 10 shots on goal.
The Rangers went up 2-0 on the stick of captain Connor Bunnaman who scored his 25th of the campaign, from Adam Mascherin and Joseph Garreffa, at 5:44.
Brendan Harrogate got the Generals on the board three minutes later, cutting the Rangers lead to 2-1, from Matt Brassard and Eric Henderson at 8:45.
Before the period was out it was a tie game as Kyle MacLean made it 2-2, from Kenny Huether and Allan McShane, at 16:00 to send the game to the second intermission.
Shots favoured Kitchener, 27-17, through 40 minutes.
Commisso gave the Gens their first lead of the night, 3-2, from Huether and McShane at 8:20 of the third period.
As the clock wound down in the frame, Kole Sherwood had a terrific chance to tie the game by beating Ceci, but rang the puck off the post.
With under a minute and a half to play in regulation and the Generals still up 3-2, the Rangers pulled Culina in favour of an extra attacker in attempt to tie the game, but to no avail.
Final shots on goal were 36-22, Kitchener.
The Rangers were 0-for-1 on the power play, while the Generals were 0-for-2 with the man advantage.
Cole Ceci (OSH) (3), Givani Smith (KIT) (2), and Kenny Huether (OSH) (1) were selected as the Three Stars of the Game.
Logan Stanley, Adam Mascherin, and Kole Sherwood each wore an “A” and skated as alternates to Rangers’ captain Connor Bunnaman.
The Rangers take to the road to face the Guelph Storm on Sunday, March 4 at 2pm to round out weekend action. (Please note: The game time for Sunday in Guelph was previously 6pm, but the start time was changed and approved by the league earlier this season to 2pm.) The Blueshirts are back at home on Tuesday, March 6 when they host the Sarnia Sting at 7pm.
Regular season tickets to all Kitchener Rangers home games are $23.00 each for adults, $19.00 for children 12 and under including HST, and are available in person or by calling the Activa Box Office at The Aud, from Centre in the Square (519) 578-1570 -or- 1-800-265-8977, or by purchasing online.
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