Randell Leads Rangers to Western Conference Final
Tyler Randell scored four goals as the Kitchener Rangers advanced to the Western Conference Finals with a 6-3 win over the Plymouth Whalers on Tuesday. The Rangers won the series 4-3 and will play the London Knights in the next round. Tobias Rieder scored and added two assists, while rearguard Cody Sol assisted on three of Randell’s tallies.
The Rangers took advantage of their first power play opportunity, opening the scoring halfway through the first period. Tyler Randell got the play started, beating a Plymouth skater to the puck behind the net. Radek Faksa jumped on it for the Rangers, moving it to Michael Catenacci to the left of the Plymouth net. The captain returned the puck to Randell with a crisp pass across the top of the crease and the overager chipped the puck over Whalers netminder Scott Wedgewood. Randell’s third of the playoffs came in his return after missing the Rangers’ last 10 contests.
Plymouth was quick to respond, leveling the score less than two minutes later. Stefan Noesen held the puck near the boards until he found an open passing lane to Matthew Mistele. The rookie snapped a high shot off the left goalpost and behind Rangers starter John Gibson. His second goal of this series was also assisted by blueliner Dario Trutmann. Noesen’s assist was his first point in this series after he missed the opening six games with an injury.
Eric Ming sent the Rangers to the dressing room with a 2-1 lead at the first intermission. Ryan Murphy passed the puck to the sophomore winger, who found himself open with time in front of the net. Ming picked his spot and pitched a shot blocker-side past Wedgewood. The goal was his second of the postseason.
The Whalers out-shot Kitchener 10-7 though the opening 20 minutes of play.
Plymouth pulled even again early in the middle frame, finding the back of the net just 2:36 into the period. J.T Miller wired a cross-ice pass to Mitchell Heard who slid a low shot past the left skate of Gibson. Heard’s fourth of the playoffs was also assisted by Tom Wilson.
The Rangers continued their power play success late in the period, scoring on their second man-advantage of the game. Randell was in front of the Whalers net to provide the screen, and deflected Murphy’s point shot over the glove hand of Wedgewood for his second of the game. Tobias Rieder also picked up a point with an assist on the play.
Late in the period, with the teams skating 4-on-4, Randell completed the hat trick and boosted the Rangers to a 4-2 lead. With less than a minute remaining, he raced over the Plymouth blueline on a breakaway, carried the puck in from the wing, passed it through the legs of the defender and backhanded it by the outstretched blocker of Wedgewood. His fifth goal in five periods of play this postseason was assisted by Zach Lorentz and Cody Sol.
The teams each fired 15 shots on goal in the second period.
The Rangers extended their lead in the third, taking a 5-2 lead on Randell’s fourth of the night. The overager tipped Sol’s long shot into the Whalers net, with an assist from Rieder.
Plymouth cut into the lead with less than six minutes to play. Austin Levi fired a shot through heavy traffic in front of the Rangers net and the puck trickled by Gibson to bring the Whalers within two goals. Mistele and Wilson each picked up their second point of the night with assists on Levi’s second of the playoffs.
Rieder would seal the 6-3 Rangers win with an empty net goal in the final 90 seconds of play. His team-leading tenth of the postseason was assisted by Sol, who picked up his third assist of the contest on the play.
The Whalers led shots on goal 12-9 in the final period and finished with a 37-31 overall advantage, but Gibson made 34 saves for the Rangers in his eighth win of the postseason.
Kitchener wins the series 4-3 and advances to face the London Knights in the Western Conference finals. Schedule and ticket information can be found here.
Scoring
1. KIT T. Randell, (3) (M. Cateancci, R. Faksa), 10:20 (PP)
1. PLY M. Mistele, (2) (S. Noesen, D. Trutmann), 12:09
1. KIT E. Ming, (2) (R. Murphy), 17:15
2. PLY M. Heard, (4) (J. Miller, T. Wilson), 2:36
2. KIT T. Randell, (4) (R. Murphy, T. Rieder), 16:59 (PP)
2. KIT T. Randell, (5) (Z. Lorentz, C. Sol), 19:08
3. KIT T. Randell, (6) (C. Sol, T. Rieder), 4:23
3. PLY A. Levi, (2) (M. Mistele, T. Wilson), 14:13
3. KIT T. Rieder, (10) (C. Sol), 18:39 (EN)
Three Stars
1. KIT – 11 Tyler Randell
2. KIT – 24 Ryan Murphy
3. PLY – 22 Matthew Mistele
Attendance: 2,478
The Kitchener Rangers defeated the Owen Sound Attack in the Western Conference Quarter Finals 4-1, moved on to edge the Plymouth Whalers 4-3 in the Semi-final round and will now face the London Knights in the Conference Final.
Kitchener Rangers vs. London Knights Series Schedule:
Game 1: Thursday, April 19 at London: 7:00pm
Game 2 (I) Sunday, April 22 at Kitchener: 7:00pm
Game 3: Tuesday, April 24 at London: 7:00pm
Game 4 (J) Wednesday, April 25 at Kitchener: 7:00pm
Game 5: Friday, April 27 at London: 7:00pm*
Game 6 ( K) : Sunday, April 29 at Kitchener: 7:00pm*
Game 7: Monday, April 30 at London: 7:00pm*
*If Required.
Tickets for home game I and J (Round 3, Home Game 1 & 2) will go on sale Wednesday, April 18 at 10:00am.
Season ticket holders who have not pre-purchased their playoff tickets will have their tickets held until 48 hours before the start of Game I and J (Round 3, Home Game 1 &2) and if required 24 hours before the start of Game K (Round 3, Home Game 3).
Season Ticket holders who have not pre-purchased must buy Game I (Home Game 1) tickets by end of box office day Friday, April 20. All unclaimed season ticket holder seats for Game I will be released for public sale on Saturday, April 21 at 10:00am.
Season Ticket holders who have not pre-purchased must buy Game J (Home Game 2) tickets by end of box office day Monday, April 23. All unclaimed season ticket holder seats for Game J will be released for public sale on Tuesday, April 24 at 10:00am.
Please do not respond to this email with ticket requests. 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 Box Office.
The Aud Box Office Hours
Wednesday, April 18: 10 – 4
Thursday, April 19: 10-4
Friday, April 20: 10-6
Saturday, April 21: 10-4
Sunday, April 22: 5 – 8
The Centre In The Square Box Office Hours
Wednesday, April 18: 10-8
Thursday, April 19: 10-8
Friday, April 20: 10-8
Saturday, April 21: 10-8
Sunday, April 22: 12:30 – 3
Ticket Pricing:
Adults (ages 13 and up) $ 25.25
Children (ages 3 -12) $ 21.50
Please note that there are no refunds or exchanges on playoff ticket purchases.
