Knights Win Game 4 in OT
Chris Tierney scored the overtime winner to lift the London Knights to a 4-3 win over the Kitchener Rangers on Wednesday night. Justin Bailey and Ben Fanelli each scored their first career postseason goals for the Rangers, while John Gibson made 57 saves in the losing effort. London leads the best-of-seven Western Conference Semifinal series 3-1, with Game 5 scheduled for Friday night at the Budweiser Gardens.
The Rangers took a 1-0 lead at the 8:24 mark of the opening period. Rookie Justin Bailey shook off a defender behind the London net, crossed in front of the crease and lifted a shot over a sprawling Anthony Stolarz to record his first of the postseason. Veteran power forward Ben Thomson earned an assist on Bailey’s first career OHL playoff goal.
London responded quickly, evening the score less than one minute later. Bo Horvat forced a turnover in the corner and moved the puck out to Seth Griffith. His initial shot was turned aside by Rangers netminder John Gibson, but the Boston Bruins prospect tracked his own rebound and found the back of the net for his second of the playoffs.
The Rangers re-established their lead at the 13:06 mark, taking advantage of a 4-on-3 power play opportunity. Matt Puempel found Tobias Rieder with a quick backhand pass across the front of the net and the Phoenix Coyotes prospect chipped the puck over Stolarz for his second goal of the postseason, with an assist from team scoring leader Joshua Leivo.
Ben Fanelli’s first career playoff goal lifted the Rangers to a 3-1 lead with less than 90 seconds remaining in the frame. With the teams playing 4-on-4, Rieder found the rearguard just inside the blueline and he bounced a long shot over Stolarz. Rieder’s assist was his fifth point in his last two games.
The Knights out-shot the Rangers 15-14 through 20 minutes of play.
London cut the deficit to a single goal in the latter half of the second period. Matt Rupert recorded his first of the playoffs, firing a shot from the slot high over the blocker-side shoulder of Gibson. Chris Tierney and Stolarz assisted on the goal at 13:22.
The Knights led shots on goal 23-13 in the middle frame.
Nikita Zadorov pulled London level at 3-3 with 16:10 to play in the final period. The import rearguard beat Gibson with a high shot for his second of the postseason. Griffith picked up his second point of the night with a helper on the play. The second assist was credited to Alex Broadhurst.
With the score tied, the contest was decided in sudden death overtime. The Knights out-shot the Rangers 16-13 in the third period and 53-45 overall through 60 minutes of regulation play.
Tierney found the back of the net 13:24 into the extra frame, lifting the Knights to a 4-3 victory. The goal was his third of the playoffs, assisted by Ryan Rupert and Kyle Platzer.
London out-shot the Rangers 8-5 in the extra frame and 61-50 overall. Gibson made 57 saves for the Rangers.
With the win, the Knights lead the best-of-seven Western Conference Semifinal 3-1. Game 5 is Friday evening in London.
Scoring
1. KIT J. Bailey, (1) (B. Thomson), 8:24
1. LDN S. Griffith, (2) (B. Horvat), 9:08
1. KIT T. Rieder, (2) (M. Puempel, J. Leivo), 13:06 (PP)
1. KIT B. Fanelli, (1) (T. Rieder), 18:34
2. LDN M. Rupert, (1) (C. Tierney, A. Stolarz), 13:22
3. LDN N. Zadorov, (2) (S. Griffith, A. Broadhurst), 3:50
OT. LDN C. Tierney, (3) (R. Rupert, K. Platzer), 13:24
Attendance: 7090
Three Stars
1. LDN – 71 Chris Tierney
2. KIT – 35 John Gibson
3. LDN – 43 Anthony Stolarz
The Western Conference Semifinal series returns to London for Game 5 on Friday, April 12 t at 7:30pm. If necessary, Game 6 is scheduled for Sunday, April 14 at 7pm.
