KNIGHTS SQUEEZE PAST RANGERS 5-4
Rookies Adam Mascherin, Connor Bunnaman and Gustaf Franzen each scored for the Kitchener Rangers in a 5-4 loss to the London Knights on Tuesday night. Nick Maygar also scored for the Rangers, while Brent Pedersen picked up a pair of assists in the loss.
The Knights took an early 1-0 lead, scoring in the opening minute of the first frame. Canadian Hockey League Player of the Week Christian Dvorak picked off a pass in the Rangers zone, and quickly shifted the puck to Matt Rupert. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect fired a high shot past Dawson Carty to record his ninth of the season.
The Rangers responded less than three minutes later, knotting the score at one goal apiece. Sophomore forward Nick Magyar picked off the puck near his own blueline, and raced it the length of the ice, chipping a high shot over the glove of Michael Giugovaz. The unassisted tally was the Colorado Avalanche propect’s ninth of the year.
Rookie Adam Mascherin lifted the Rangers to a 2-1 lead just past the halfway point of the period. The Rangers’ first round pick in the 2014 OHL Selection tracked the puck at the side of the Rangers net, sweeping a shot past the left pad of Giugovaz to record his fifth of the year. Thomas Welsh and Brent Pedersen picked up assists on the power play marker.
Kitchener dominated shots on goal 23-6 in the opening 20 minutes.
Connor Bunnaman extended the Rangers lead to 3-1 early in the middle frame, potting his third goal of the season. Ryan MacInnis threw a shot on net, and the rookie from Guelph pounced on the loose puck in the Knights’ crease, diving to nudge it over the goal line. Justin Bailey also earned a helper on the play at 1:25.
London closed the gap to a single goal later in the period, when the puck bounced in front of the Rangers net and Aaron Berisha jumped on it, lifting a shot high under the crossbar for his tenth of the year. Drake Rymsha earned the lone assist on the play.
Two quick goals late in the period but the Knights back in front 4-3. First John Warren put the finishing touch on a series of crisp passes, picking up the puck from Chandler Yakimowicz and burying a high shot behind Carty. Owen MacDonald was also credited with a helper on Warren’s second goal of the year.
Victor Mete scored his first career Ontario Hockey League goal just 34 seconds later, corralling Rymsha’s pass from behind the net and firing a long, heavy shot past Carty.
Mete’s goal prompted a goaltending change as Kitchener sent Matthew Greenfield to the crease in relief of Carty.
Import forward Gustaf Franzen pulled the Rangers even before the end of the frame, capitalizing on the man advantage to tie the score at 4-4. Pedersen found the rookie from Sweden alone to the right of Giugovaz and Franzen leaned in a shot, snapping his seventh of the season into the net. Max Iafrate also assisted on the power play tally, Franzen’s second goal in three games.
Kitchener continued to out-shoot the Knights, leading shots on goal 14-9 in the second period.
A 4-on-4 goal with 6:50 left to play pushed London back in front 5-4. Dakota Mermis wired a pass to Mitch Marner in front of the Rangers net, and the Knights’ scoring leader pitched a shot over a sprawling Greenfield to notch his 27th of the year. Mete also picked up an assist on the play, his second point of the night.
The Rangers led shots on goal 9-8 in the third period, finishing with a 46-23 overall advantage.
The season series between Kitchener and London is now tied at one win apiece.
Scoring
1. LDN M. Rupert, (9) (C. Dvorak), 0:58
1. KIT N. Magyar, (9) (unassisted), 3:21
1. KIT A. Mascherin, (5) (T. Welsh, B. Pedersen), 11:06 (PP)
2. KIT C. Bunnaman, (3) (R. MacInnis, J. Bailey), 1:25
2. LDN A. Berisha, (10) (D. Rymsha), 8:11
2. LDN J. Warren, (2) (C. Yakimowicz, O. MacDonald), 14:17
2. LDN. V. Mete, (1) (D. Rymsha), 14:51
2. KIT G. Franzen, (7) (B. Pedersen, M. Iafrate), 17:07 (PP)
3. LDN M. Marner, (27) (D. Mermis, V. Mete), 13:10
Attendance: 6570
Three Stars
1. LDN – 93 Mitchell Marner
2. LDN – 10 Christian Dvorak
3. KIT – 74 Connor Bunnaman
The next Rangers home game is Friday, December 19 when we host the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at 7:30pm. Tickets to all Kitchener Rangers home games are now available by phone at 519-578-1570 or 1-800-265-8977, via the internet at www.centre-square.com or in person at the Centre In the Square Box Office or the Kitchener Auditorium Box Office.
