Rangers muster point, but fall to Attack in OT
The Kitchener Rangers (2-1-1-0) managed to erase a two-goal, third period deficit, but it was the Owen Sound Attack (1-0-0-1) who left town with the extra point as the visitors skated to a 4-3 OT win in front of 6,833 fans at The Aud on Friday night.
The fact the Rangers were able to battle back from the late deficit was the good news; the bad news, the fact they were held scoreless on the power play, which went 0-for-7.
Logan Stanley added a pair of points to the scoresheet for the second consecutive night, while Adam Mascherin found the back of the net for the second time this season. Joseph Garreffa chipped in with his first goal, rounding out the offense for the Rangers who look to cap off their 3-in-3 weekend on a high note against divisional opponent, the Erie Otters, tomorrow night at 7pm.
Luke Richardson (0-1-1-0) got the call between the pipes for the Rangers but was saddled with the loss, making 36 saves on 40 shots.
Zack Bowman (1-0-0-1) earned his first win of the season, turning aside 33 of 36 shots he faced.
The first period finished in a scoreless tie despite the fact the Rangers were awarded four power play opportunities in the opening 20 minutes, including a 1:30, 5-on-3 edge past the midway point of the period.
Nearly eight minutes into the first period shots favoured Kitchener 5-4 before the Blueshirts sailed 10 consecutive shots at Bowman, leading 15-4 on the shot clock. At the end of 20 minutes the Rangers led 15-9.
Mascherin opened the game’s scoring just 2:49 into the second period to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Rickard Hugg found Stanley, who set up Mascherin with a pretty feed for the winger’s second goal of the season.
The Attack answered back quickly to tie the game 1-1 though, as Zachary Roberts notched his first of the season, from Chase Campbell and Matthew Struthers, at 3:15.
Nearly ten minutes later it was the Attack’s turn to skate with a pair of extra men, as the Rangers were whistled for roughing and high sticking, giving Owen Sound 1:41 of 5-on-3 time.
They would only need 37 seconds, as they took a 2-1 lead on a power play goal by Sean Durzi, his first of the season, from Kevin Hancock and Alan Lysczcarczyk at 13:49 to close out second period scoring.
Shots on goal after 40 minutes of play were 28-23 in favour of Kitchener.
Jonah Gadjovich extended the Owen Sound lead to 3-1 at the 8:20 mark of the third period, as his shot from the slot forced the puck to squeak through the pads of Richardson and find the back of the net. Hancock and Durzi picked up the assists.
But the Rangers weren’t ready to roll over, and they began their surge for the equalizer with a goal by Stanley – his second in a Rangers uniform, and second point of the game – at 12:06, assisted by Jake Henderson. Nick McHugh was originally credited with an assist, as the winger won a battle for the puck below the goal line to get the play started, fed it to Henderson, who then found Stanley, cutting the Owen Sound lead to 3-2.
Just 1:33 later the Rangers fully erased the deficit, making it a 3-3 game on a goal originally appearing to come from a slapshot from the point by Connor Hall, but in fact tipped in off of winger Joseph Garreffa for his first of the season. Hall would pick up the primary assist, with Vallati earning the secondary helper on the goal at 13:39.
Regulation ended with shots favouring the Attack 37-36. Ethan Szypula ended the game just 1:26 into the 3-on-3 overtime period, from Maksim Sushko and Jacob Friend to give the Attack their first victory of the season.
Final shots on goal were 40-36, Owen Sound.
The Rangers would finish the night going 0-for-7 on the power play, while the Attack were 1-for-5 with the man advantage.
Stanley, Mascherin, and Hall each wore an “A” and skated as alternates. Captain Connor Bunnaman missed the game to flu-like symptoms.
Prior to the game the Rangers welcomed back to The Aud former Blueshirt Darcy Harris (1996-98) to partake in the ceremonial faceoff.
The Rangers close out the 3-on-3 weekend back on the road when they visit the Erie Otters for a 7pm start tomorrow, Saturday, September 30th.
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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