FRANZEN LEADS RANGERS TO GAME 4 WIN

Gustaf Franzen scored a pair of goals on Thursday night to lead the Kitchener Rangers to a 5-4 win over the London Knights. Adam Mascherin, Ryan MacInnis and Mason Kohn also scored in the win, the Rangers first of the series. The Knights lead the best-of-seven series 3-1, with Game 5 scheduled for Friday night in London.

Jack Hidi put the Knights on the board first, picking up a feed from Brandon Crawley and sweeping a shot past Rangers starter Jake Paterson. The rookie winger’s second goal of the postseason was also assisted by defenceman Chandler Yakimowicz.

London led shots on goal 14-7 after 20 minutes.

Kitchener pulled even early in the second frame, scoring 2:26 into the period. Captain Liam Maaskant’s shot on goal was turned aside by Tyler Parsons, but Gustaf Franzen jumped on the loose puck, squeezing it over the goal line for his first of the postseason. Mike Davies also picked up a helper on the Swedish forward’s first career playoff marker.

The Rangers took a 2-1 lead less than three minutes later with Adam Mascherin’s first career postseason goal. Connor Bunnaman ignited the play, pouncing on a turnover near the London blueline and snapping a shot at Parsons. He was stopped, but the rebound bounced to the streaking rookie, who lifted a shot over the netminder, giving him two points in the series.

Ryan MacInnis scored his first of the series at the halfway mark, stepping out of the penalty box and on to the rush with Brandon Robinson to put the Rangers up by a pair. Robinson wired a pass to the Arizona Coyotes prospect, who shifted to his backhand and slid a shot behind Parsons’ left skate. MacInnis led the Rangers in the regular season with a career best 61 points.

Kitchener struck again just 49 seconds later, jumping ahead 4-1. Franzen netted his second of the game, firing a quick shot past Parsons with assist from Nick Magyar and Mason Kohn.

Christian Dvorak pulled the Knights closer before the end of the period, adding his third goal of the postseason to make it 4-2 Rangers. The Arizona Coyotes prospect slid a shot under Paterson with four minutes remaining before the intermission, with an assist from Aiden Jamieson.

Kitchener outshot London 22-8 in the middle frame.

With 7:29 remaining in on the clock, the Knights crept within one on the man advantage. Mitchell Marner capitalized on a sprawling Paterson, chipping a shot over the goal line for his seventh of the series. Domi and import defenceman Julius Bergman earned the assists on the play.

Mason Kohn’s first career playoff goal restored the Rangers two-goal lead, putting the home team ahead 5-3. The sophomore centre snapped a hard, low shot under Parsons that rattled around the back of the net. Llewellyn earned the lone assist on the play, his third point of the series.

With the London net empty for the extra attacker and led than two minutes to play, Victor Mete fired a long shot that was tipped by Dvorak over Paterson to cut the Knights deficit to one goal. Dvorak’s second of the game was also assisted by Domi.

The Rangers held on for a 5-4 win, their first of the series. London led shots on goal 14-9 in the third, but Kitchener finished with a 38-36 overall advantage.

The Knights lead the best-of seven quarterfinal series 3-1. Game 5 is Friday night at 7:00pm at the Budweiser Gardens in London.

Scoring
1. LDN J. Hidi, (2) (B. Crawley, C. Yakimowicz), 13:04
2. KIT G. Franzen, (1) (L. Maaskant, M. Davies), 2:26
2. KIT A. Mascherin, (1) (C. Bunnaman), 5:11
2. KIT R. MacInnis, (1) (B. Robinson), 10:20
2. KIT G. Franzen, (2) (N. Magyar, M. Kohn), 11:09
2. LDN C. Dvorak, (3) (A. Jamieson), 16:06
3. LDN M. Marner, (8) (M. Domi, J. Bergman), 12:31 (PP)
3. KIT M. Kohn, (1) (D. Llewellyn), 14:11
3. LDN C. Dvorak, (4) (V. Mete, M. Domi), 18:04

Attendance: 6193

Three Stars
1. KIT – 15 Gustaf Franzen
2. LDN – 33 Julius Bergman
3. KIT – 17 Mason Kohn