Highlights: Blueshirts win third-straight with Thursday victory in Peterborough
Peterborough, Ont. – The Kitchener Rangers earned their third-straight win and their fourth victory in their last five games after a 4-3 road triumph over the Peterborough Petes in front of 3,003 fans at the Peterborough Memorial Centre Thursday. Reid Valade recorded a two-goal game and Marcus Vandenberg made a career-high 43 saves on 46 shots in the win.
Kitchener picked up right there they left off from their past two games jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. Just two and a half minutes into the game Carson Rehkopf scored his ninth power-play goal of the season on a classic Rehkopf wrist shot from the bottom of the right face-off circle. Hunter Brzustewicz picked up the assist on the power-play goal.
Then, Kitchener scored two goals in 1:03 to earn a 3-0 advantage. Reid Valade made a great effort off the boards winning a puck battle against a Petes’ defender to create a two-on-one break. Valade held the puck around another sliding Petes’ defender and fired a shot off the right-post and in over the glove of Michael Simpson. Kitchener increased their lead to three after Roman Schmidt (Tampa Bay Lightning) walked in from the right-point off a Filip Mešár (Montréal Canadiens) pass for his second goal of the season. Shots after one ended in favour of the Petes 12-11.
At 12:37 of the second period, Connor Lockhart was given match penalty for a slew foot behind the Ranges net on Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings). On the ensuing power-play, Michael Simpson made what was thought to be the save of the year on a Reid Valade shot. A minor penalty was awarded to Matthew Andonovski at 17:22 in the period, but during the whistle, the play went to video review. Video showed Michael Simpson reached behind his back with his glove to grab the puck, but the puck had fully crossed the line and at 17:28. Valade was awarded his second goal of the night and seventh goal of the year increasing Kitchener’s lead to 4-0.
The penalty to Andonovski still had to be served and Tucker Robertson was able to get a goal back for Peterborough. A fake shot by Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) found Tucker at the left post where he used his skate and blade to direct the puck home. Then with 25 seconds remaining in the period Chase Stillman collected the loose puck after a scramble in front of Marcus Vandenberg’s crease and was able to squeeze a shot past Vandenberg to cut Kitchener’s lead in half.
After 40 minutes of play, Kitchener was leading 4-2 and shots favoured the Petes 31-25.
Kitchener took four minor penalties in the third period. On Peterborough’s second power-play of the period, the Petes drew within a goal. A pass by Tucker Robertson behind the net was fed to Jack Van Volsen in the slot who one-timed a shot home. Peterborough pulled their goalie for the extra attacker, but the Rangers, behind 43 saves by Marcus Vandenberg, were able to skate away with the 4-3 victory.
Final shots favoured the Petes 46-32. Kitchener finished the game 2-for-7 on the power-play and 3-for-5 on the penalty-kill. Valade earned the game’s first star with two goals and Marcus Vandenberg earned the games third star stopping 43-of-46 shots he faced.
The East Avenue Blue are back on home-ice tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 9 against the Niagara IceDogs. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m at The Aud. Great seats are still available and can be purchased here.
Photo Credit: David Pickering
For inquiries, contact:
Dominic Hennig
Senior Director, Broadcasting, Communications & Hockey Operations
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
519-497-9342
[email protected]
