Rangers wrap successful weekend with win against reigning league champs
Anthony Dumont-Bouchard kept his Ontario Hockey League record pristine as the Kitchener Rangers dropped the Erie Otters, 3-2, in front of 4,725 fans at the Erie Insurance Arena on Saturday night.
Since coming to the Rangers (3-1-1-0) via Barrie, by way of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the 20-year-old veteran has been a reliable last line of defence for the Blueshirts; tonight making 25 saves to spoil the home opener for the defending OHL champion Otters (1-3-1-0).
Dumont-Bouchard improved his record to 3-0-0-0 on the season, while his counterpart Troy Timpano saw his line dip to 1-2-1-0 after allowing three goals on 16 shots in the loss.
The win rounds out a 3-in-3 weekend for the Rangers, who captured five of a possible six points against the Otters tonight, Windsor on Thursday (W), and last night versus Owen Sound (OTL).
Joseph Garreffa gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 7:11 of the opening frame, a power play goal, assisted by Adam Mascherin and Logan Stanley.
Just under three minutes later they extended their lead to 2-0 after Connor Hall, down low, found Jake Henderson near the hash marks who buried his second of the season. Nick McHugh earned the second assist on the goal, coming at 9:53.
Before the period was out the Otters would etch the scoresheet, as Gera Poddubnyi cut the Rangers lead to 2-1 at 16:36, from Maxim Golod and Ryan Martin, to round out first period scoring.
Shots on goal in the first period of play favoured Erie, 12-7.
After a scoreless second, Mascherin tallied his third of the season with a beautiful, highlight-reel snipe from behind the goal line, giving Kitchener a 3-1 lead at 3:54, from Greg Meireles and Garreffa.
Christian Girhiny would answer back for the Otters, cutting the Rangers lead to 3-2 after banking a pass from Patrick Fellows into a gaping net. Joseph Mack earned the second assist on the goal at 5:50 of the third.
The Otters pulled Timpano in the closing minutes of the frame, but failed to tally the equalizer.
Shots on goal in the second period were 5-5, and 11-5 Erie in the third period for a game total of 27-16, Otters.
Kitchener finished the game making half of their opportunities on the man advantage count, going 1-for-2. Erie was 0-for-3 in their power play chances.
The two teams meet again on Friday, as the Otters visit The Aud to take on the Rangers on October 6th for a 7:30pm start.
Stanley, Mascherin, and Henderson each wore an “A” and skated as alternates. Captain Connor Bunnaman missed the game to flu-like symptoms.
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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