Back within Range
Brampton, ON- The Brampton Steelheads sweep the Kitchener Rangers, 4-1, in their two-game series as Luke Misa brings home a hattrick and one assist.
In the first match-up between the Steelheads and Rangers, the Trout showed their power at full strength as they took home a 5-2 lead. The three-goal victory returned as the Steelheads beat the Rangers, 4-1, in today’s second and final matchup.
The Trout got into the action early, opening the scoring less than two minutes into the first. Luke Misa got the icebreaker on the backhand off a nice pass and play from Gabriel Chiarot and Jack Van Volsen.
Van Volsen got the play started at the Steelheads blueline, making a cross-ice pass up to Chiarot, who was waiting just outside the offensive zone. Carrying the puck up the right side, Chiarot attempted the 2-on-1 as Misa followed up on the left side. After getting covered off the Rangers’ defence, Chiarot passed it over to Misa, who snuck it past Jackson Parsons.
Following their first goal, the Trout got themselves another prime scoring opportunity after Jack Pridham was given a double-minor for high sticking. With four minutes with the man advantage, the Steelheads got back into action and looked to generate another goal. Despite numerous chances and keeping the puck deep in the offensive zone, the score remained at one.
After playing almost a quarter of the period a man down, the Rangers aimed to even things out as the remaining minutes of the first winded down, but they were no match for Jack Ivankovic.
The Brampton netminder made his presence known early in the first, as he stood tall between the pipes to keep the Steelheads lead. His biggest save of the period came after the puck was left out front for Trent Swick, who had an open shooting lane, but Ivankovic quickly covered him off with the save.
The Steelheads would take the lead into the second and begin a period of back-and-forth with the Rangers that would end with a tied game.
The second period started slower than the first, as there was no scoring or special teams in the first half. Yet, once again, there were numerous chances on both ends. Van Volsen got a chance on Parsons after being set up for a breakaway, while the Rangers had a 2-on-1 attempt that Konnor Smith intercepted.
Despite Ivankovic’s efforts throughout the opening ten minutes of the second, the Rangers tied things up. As the Steelhead’s defence tried to clear the puck into the neutral zone, it was covered off by the Rangers, who kept it along the boards. During the board battle, Adrian Misaljevic picked up the puck and sneaked it past Ivankovic on the blocker side.
The game was tied after 40 minutes of play, setting up an exciting third period. The third started as a battle of the goalies, as Ivankovic and Parsons traded saves, but things quickly changed as the Steelheads took back the lead and went three unanswered.
Porter Martone and Angus MacDonell got the first chance of the period with a 2-on-1 attempt. Martone covered off Parson on the left before making a pass to MacDonell for the one-timer, but Parsons was able to dive over to make the save.
Parson continued to make several incredible saves throughout the period but was bested by Parker Von Richter, who gave the Trout the lead again.
Getting a pass from Vilmer Alriksson, Misa went around the net and sent the puck back to Von Richter at the point. Stepping into the zone, Von Richter fired one on goal, sending it over the shoulder of Parsons to bring the score to 2-1.
The Steelheads did not stop there, as Misa soon followed with the insurance goal to extend the lead to three. After setting Mason Zebeski up for the initial shot out front, which was covered off by Parsons, Misa made his way out front to pick up the rebound. Despite the traffic, Misa beat Parsons down low on the blocker side.
As the final minutes ticked down, the Rangers put all forces ahead to tie the game. Pulling Parsons for the extra attacker, Kitchener set up in the Steelheads zone and had many scoring attempts, but once again could not put it past Ivankovic.
Pridham came close to making the game within one as he got the initial shot on Ivankovic with traffic out front but was covered off by the Steelheads’ netminder. Pridham’s shot would deflect left to Christian Humphreys, who thought he had the open net, but he too would be stopped by Ivankovic, who had made a quick slide to cover the left post.
Instead of making a comeback, the Rangers fell to the Steelheads as Misa ensured the Steelheads’ victory by getting the empty net and hat trick goal in the final minutes.
The Steelheads look to continue this momentum on the road as they take on the Barrie Colts on Thursday. The Trout will return home on Jan. 31 to face the Peterborough Petes. For tickets, click here.