MACINNIS LEADS RANGERS TO GAME 5 VICTORY
Ryan MacInnis’ four point night led the Kitchener Rangers to a 6-3 win over the London Knights in Game 5 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal series. The Knights lead the series 3-2 with Game 6 scheduled for Sunday, April 5 at 7pm in Kitchener. Tickets will go on sale Saturday morning at 10am: visit kitchenerrangers.com for more information.
The Knights took an early 1-0, opening the scoring 3:49 into the first period. Aiden Jamieson skated the puck behind net and connected with an open Julius Bergman in the slot. The Swedish rearguard fired over the blocker of Rangers starter Jake Paterson to pick up his third goal of the series. Christian Dvorak also earned a helper on the play.
Defenceman Frank Hora’s first career playoff goal pulled the Rangers even with less than seven minutes to play in the frame. The Cheektowaga, NY native launched a shot through a crowd in front of the net, beating the glove of netminder Tyler Parsons. David Miller and Ryan MacInnis picked up the assists, the fifth point of the playoffs for each.
Kitchener led shots on goal 12-11 after 20 minutes.
Captain Max Domi restored the Knights’ lead with a shorthanded goal 69 seconds into the second period. Jack Hidi forced a turnover in the neutral zone, and the Arizona Coyotes propect picked it up with speed and lifted a shot over Paterson. The tally was his second of the postseason.
Darby Llewellyn’s third goal of the series evened the score at 2-2. Liam Maaskant’s shot was stopped by Parsons, but the third year winger was in the crease to collect the loose puck and push it behind the netminder’s skate.
Less than three minutes later, MacInnis gave Kitchener its first lead of the night, jumping on the Rangers odd man rush and bouncing a shot off Parsons’ arm. The St. Louis, MO native was the club’s leading scorer in the regular season, and has two goals and four helpers in the postseason. Nick Magyar and Hora picked up the helpers on the play.
Brandon Robinson’s first of the playoffs pushed the Rangers ahead 4-2 with MacInnis set up the veteran winger, lacing a pass through the defenders to a rushing Robinson. He swept a shot past Parsons, with the secondary assist credited to defenceman Max Iafrate.
Matt Rupert pulled the Knights within one with less than two minutes to play. With Parsons on the London bench in favour of the extra attacker, the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect fired a low shot through heavy traffic, beating Paterson for his fourth of the series. Leading scorer Mitchell Marner and Victor Mete earned assists on the play.
The Rangers scored a pair of empty net goals late in the frame to seal a 6-3 Rangers win. Hora netted his second of the night with 1:21 to play, jumping on a rebound in his own zone and sailing a shot the length of the ice.
MacInnis added his second of the game with 14 seconds remaining on the clock, picking off a pass at the London blueline and chipping it into the empty net. The sophomore centre finished with four points on the night.
The Rangers led shots on goal 14-12 in the third and 42-34 overall.
The Knights lead the best-of-seven series 3-2. The series returns to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium for Game 6 on Sunday, April 5 at 7:00pm. Tickets will go on sale Saturday morning at 10:00am.
Scoring
1. LDN J. Bergman, (3) (A. Jamieson, C. Dvorak), 3:49
1. KIT F. Hora, (1) (D. Miller, R. MacInnis), 13:12
2. LDN M. Domi, (2) (J Hidi), 1:06
2. KIT D. Llewellyn, (3) (L. Maaskant, M. Kohn), 14:18
2. KIT R. MacInnis, (2) (N. Magyar, F. Hora), 17:05
3. KIT B. Robinson, (1) (R. MacInnis, M. Iafrate), 16:16
3. LDN M. Rupert, (4) (M. Marner, V. Mete), 18:16
3. KIT F. Hora, (2) (unassisted), 18:39 (EN)
3. KIT R. MacInnis, (3) (unassisted), 19:46 (EN)
Attendance: 9046
Three Stars
1. KIT – 72 Ryan MacInnis
2. LDN – 46 Matt Rupert
3. KIT – 57 Jake Paterson
Tickets for Game 6 (Home Game C) of the Kitchener Rangers’ opening round series with the London Knights will go on sale tomorrow, Saturday, April 4 at 10:00am. Playoff tickets may be purchased by phone at 519-578-1570 or 1-800-265-8977, via the internet or in person at The Aud Box Office or Centre in the Square. Please note, the Centre in the Square will be closed for Sunday for both in-person and phone ticket sales.
