Sting even series with Josling’s OT winner
Sean Josling’s goal at 10:10 of overtime gave the Sarnia Sting a 3-2 win in front of 6,275 fans at The Aud on Sunday night in Game 2.
The win earns the Sting a split on the road, as the best-of-seven series is now tied, 1-1, with Game 3 set for Tuesday, April 10 at 7:05pm at Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia.
Tickets to Game 5 (Home Game “G”) will go on sale tomorrow morning, Monday, April 9 at 10am with purchase options listed below.
After a scoreless first period which saw the Sting outshoot the Rangers, 11-6, the Blueshirts got on the board first in the second period as Riley Damiani scored his fourth goal of the playoffs, from Nick McHugh and Michael Vukojevic, at 4:54.
But just over four minutes later it was a tie game as Franco Sproviero capitalized on a turnover in the Rangers zone, making it 1-1 from Jordan Ernst at 9:27.
Through 40 minutes of play shots remained slanted in Sarnia’s favour, this time by a slim 20-19 margin.
In the third, Drake Rymsha gave the Sting the lead with his third of the postseason, from Jonathan Ang and Sproviero, to make it 2-1 at 9:25.
Less than 30 seconds after the visitors took the lead, however, the Sting’s Michael Pezzetta high-sticked Austin McEneny, resulting in a four-minute Rangers power play and the Blueshirts took full advantage.
Kole Sherwood tied the game, 2-2, with his ninth goal of the playoffs, assisted by Damiani and Connor Bunnaman, which would round out scoring in regulation.
Shots through 60 minutes were 33-28, Kitchener.
The game ended on Josling’s fourth of the playoffs, from Ryan McGregor and Ang at the 10:10 mark of overtime.
Mario Culina made 32 saves in his 70+ minutes of work, while Justin Fazio gave up a pair of goals on 38 Rangers shots.
The Rangers were 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Sting were 1-for-3 with the man advantage.
Drake Rymsha (SAR) (3), Riley Damiani (KIT) (2), and Seaon Josling (SAR) (1) were selected as the Three Stars of the Game.
Logan Stanley, Adam Mascherin, and Logan Brown each wore an “A” and skated as alternates to Rangers’ captain Connor Bunnaman.
Tickets to all Kitchener Rangers home playoff games for Round 2 are $26.00 each for adults, $22.00 for children 12 and under including HST. They 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 here. Fans can also find more information about playoff tickets here.
Join in the conversation on all things Rangers by using #RaiseTheShield and #OHLPlayoffs. You can follow the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @OHLRangers.
Western Conference Semi-Final
(2) Kitchener Rangers vs. (3) Sarnia Sting
Series tied 1-1
Game 1 – Friday, April 6: Sarnia Sting 2 at Kitchener Rangers 4
Game 2 – Sunday, April 8: Sarnia Sting 3 at Kitchener Rangers 2 OT
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 10: Kitchener Rangers at Sarnia Sting 7:05pm
Game 4 – Thursday, April 12: Kitchener Rangers at Sarnia Sting 7:05pm
Game 5 – Friday, April 13: Sarnia Sting at Kitchener Rangers 7:30pm
*Game 6 – Sunday, April 15: Kitchener Rangers at Sarnia Sting 5pm
*Game 7 – Tuesday, April 17: Sarnia Sting at Kitchener Rangers 7pm
(*if necessary)
Western Conference Quarter-Final
(2) Kitchener Rangers vs. (7) Guelph Storm
Kitchener wins series 4-2
Game 1 – Friday, March 23: Guelph Storm 2 at Kitchener Rangers 7
Game 2 – Sunday, March 25: Guelph Storm 1 at Kitchener Rangers 2
Game 3 – Tuesday, March 27: Kitchener Rangers 5 at Guelph Storm 7
Game 4 – Wednesday, March 28: Kitchener Rangers 4 at Guelph Storm 6
Game 5 – Friday, March 30: Guelph Storm 2 at Kitchener Rangers 10
Game 6 – Sunday, April 1: Kitchener Rangers 5 at Guelph Storm 2
