Rangers unsuccessful vs. Otters in Pennsylvania Sunday
Erie, PA. – The Erie Otters scored six unanswered goals and five third period goals to erase a 3-1 Kitchener lead late in the second period to win 7-3 Sunday. Filip Mešár, Mitchell Martin and Matthew Sop scored for Kitchener. Hunter Brzustewicz extended his point streak to a league-leading 10 games and Francesco Pinelli extended his point streak to five games. Kitchener has won four of their last six games.
The Erie Otters got the action started in the game scoring 5:40 into the opening period. Noah Sedore recorded his first goal of the season on a back-door pass from Bruce McDonald that was deflected past the extended blocker arm of Marco Costantini. Then, Kitchener killed off a five-minute match penalty awarded to Reid Valade not really awarding Erie many chances. Short after the penalty kill, Mitchell Martin split the defencemen to break free for a mini breakaway before snapping a shot over the glove of Nolan Lalonde (Columbus Blue Jackets) to knot the game up at 1-1. Martin’s sixth goal of the season came at 13:12 of the first period.
Another key penalty kill by the Blueshirts late in the period actually saw them take their first lead in the game. A cross ice pass was intercepted by Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) who sent Matthew Sop in for a breakaway. No one could catch Sop as he faked a move to the backhand and slid the puck around the outstretched pad of the Erie goaltender. The period ended with Kitchener leading 2-1, but shots favouring the Otters 11-5.
Both teams would trade goals in the second period. It was Kitchener first doubling their lead 3-1 at 6:30. A power-play goal by Filip Mešár (Montréal Canadiens) was one-timed short side past the blocker arm of Nolan Lalonde. Hunter Brzustewicz picked up the primary assist feeding the one-time pass to Mešár for a point in his 10th consecutive game.
The second period ended with 4-on-4 play and for the second time in a row against Kitchener, Erie scored with the extra space. Marco Costantini made two cross crease stops before Carey Terrance dove into the crease and shoved the puck across the line with 23 seconds left in the period. After 40 minutes of play it was Kitchener still ahead by one, 3-2 and shots favoured the Otters 28-12.
Erie came out firing on all cylinders in the third period. Just 41 seconds into the period Carey Terrance scored his second of the game, also on a 4-on-4. A screen shot from the right faceoff dot found its way to the top left corner. Then fresh out of the box, Christian Kyrou (Dallas Stars) stole the puck to go down on a 2-on-1 break. Christian kept the puck and fired a shot short side into the top right corner. Less than a minute later, Christian Kyrou again with a point shot, low blocker side, beat Costantini at 5:17 to extend Erie’s lead to 5-3.
The Rangers pulled their goalie with 2:27 to play in the third period for the extra attacker, but at 18:26 Christian Kyrou completed his first career OHL hat-trick shooting the puck into the empty frame. With eleven seconds left in the game Erie added a seventh goal on a Kaleb Smith wrist shot over the left shoulder of Costantini, under the crossbar.
The final score ended with Erie ahead 7-3, and shots favouring the Otters 40-26. The Rangers finished the game 1-for-4 on the power-play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. All three stars of the game went to the Erie Otters. It was Kitchener-native Blair Scott’s first OHL game with the Rangers.
Next up: The East Avenue Blue return back to The Aud this Friday when the club hosts the Saginaw Spirit at 7:30 p.m. Great seats are still available and can be purchased online here.
Photo Credit: Kevin Sousa / Kitchener Rangers
For inquiries, contact:
Dominic Hennig
Senior Director, Broadcasting, Communications & Hockey Operations
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
519-497-9342
[email protected]
