Game Recap: Matthew Sop gifts the Rangers a 4-3 overtime winner
Game Summary: Matthew Sop sent the Rangers home with a 4-3 overtime victory to enter the holiday break on a high. Kitchener will enter the second half of the season as the top team in the OHL. The Rangers started the third period up three goals to none, however, Barrie rallied back with three unanswered goals to tie it up. Sop’s heroics came in clutch once again as he scored his third overtime goal of the season just 27 seconds in.
Some big milestones were hit for several Rangers players in the contest as Max Dirracolo made his OHL debut in his hometown and Blair Scott scored his first career OHL goal. Trent Swick extended his point streak to five games in the win and Sop recorded a point in 10 of his last 11 games.
Scoring Summary:
1st Period
BAR 0, KIT 1
9:32 Justin Bottineau (3) – Tanner Lam, Hunter Brzustewicz
Hunter Brzustewicz sent a backhanded pass to Tanner Lam from the boards. Lam deked around multiple defenders as he crossed the ice through the slot. He sent a shot off the glove of Ben West. Justin Bottineau deflected the puck in from midair giving the Rangers the first lead of the game.
2nd Period
BAR 0, KIT 2
1:32 Trent Swick (15) – Simon Motew, Cameron Reid
Cameron Reid sent the puck across the blueline to Simon Motew. Motew walked across the blueline switching spots with Reid before sending it towards the net. With lots of traffic in front, Trent Swick deflected Motew’s shot putting it past West who likely never saw the shot.
BAR 0, KIT 3
18:22 Blair Scott (1) – Cameron Arquette, Luca Romano
Cameron Arquette skated the puck down from the boards and toward West. He sent a pass horizontal in the zone to Blair Scott who scored his first career OHL goal over the blocker side pad of West. Scott was moved up to forward for this game. Arquette recorded his second career assist in three games since making his OHL debut on December 10th.
3rd Period
BAR 1, KIT 3
0:48 Tai York (5) – Riley Patterson, Cole Beaudoin
After a nice save by Parsons, the puck ended up behind the net on Riley Patterson’s stick as he skated around and sent a pass out front to Tai York. York buried the puck over Jackson Parsons who was not able to recover after making the original stop.
BAR 2, KIT 3
7:38 Tai York (6) – Cole Beaudoin, Connor Punnett
York scored his second of the night, cutting the lead to one goal with 12:22 remaining in the third. York held the puck in the slot and took a screened shot. The puck got past Parsons’ glove side just inside the post.
BAR 3, KIT 3
11:03 Carter Lowe (3) – Connor Punnett, Shamar Moses – PPG
A penalty to Hunter Brzustewicz for interference at 9:50 gave Barrie a chance to tie the game, on which they capitalized. A shot from the point by Connor Punnett, through traffic, was saved by Parsons. The rebound came out front of the net and was backhanded back by Carter Lowe which slid in and tied the game.
Overtime
BAR 3, KIT 4
0:27 Matthew Sop (22) – Adrian Misalejevic, Hunter Brzustewicz
Matthew Sop scored his third overtime goal of the year as he charged into the offensive zone and took on the defenders before charging in on West. As he charged, Sop went out and around West before banking it in off West’s back sending Kitchener home with two points, the perfect way to enter the holiday break.
The Stars:
First Star: Tai York (2G)
Second Star: Justin Bottineau (1G)
Third Star: Trent Swick (1G)
The Goalies:
Ben West made 26 of 30 possible saves in the overtime loss. This moves his record to 4-7-1-0. On the other side of the ice, Jackson Parsons stopped 19 of 22 shots improving his record to 17-6-1-0.
The Numbers Game:
Shots: BAR 22, KIT 30
Powerplay: BAR 1-3, KIT 0-2
FO%: BAR 42.4%, KIT 57.6%
Up Next: Kitchener enters their holiday break following tonight’s matchup. They return on December 29th at home to take on the Flint Firebirds. Kitchener has played Flint twice this season, winning both times. Tickets can be purchased at The Aud Box Office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online here.
For inquiries, contact:
Lindsay Eastwood
Manager of Communications and Team Services
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
613-793-0168
[email protected]
Photo Credit: Barrie Colts
