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OHL Kitchener Rangers

Bracco Buries OT Winner as Rangers Rally to Beat Steelheads

October 23, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Things didn't look to be going the Kitchener Rangers way in the early going of their afternoon match-up versus the Mississauga Steelheads on Sunday, but as Jeremy Bracco said, "Good teams find ways to win."

The Rangers (8-3-0-1) erased an early 2-0 deficit before Bracco's heroics propelled Kitchener to a 3-2 overtime win over the Steelheads (5-5-1-1) in front of an announced attendance of 2,559 at the Hershey Centre.

The Rangers made their lone visit of the season to Mississauga count, but not before falling behind in what the team itself called a lackluster effort in the first period. The Steelheads scored twice on their first three shots of the game and looked poised to skate to victory, as they maintained that lead through 40 minutes of play.

But Kitchener's top line responded in the latter stages, as Adam Mascherin scored his first of the afternoon on the power play just 31 seconds into the final frame, then tied the game with just 1:30 to play to send the game to overtime.

It was a game in which the Rangers at times struggled to produce many offensive chances, and when they did, were frustrated by the play of rookie Mississauga netminder Jacob Ingham, who was eventually saddled with the loss after allowing three goals on 26 shots.

Dawson Carty got his third start of the weekend in goal for the Rangers - today, against his former club - and after the early deficit stayed sturdy between the pipes to help guide Kitchener to the win. Carty improved his record to 8-1-0-1 after making 21 saves, and also picked up the second assist on Mascherin's game tying goal in the dying minutes of regulation.

The Steelheads got on the board early as Owen Tippett banked in a back-door pass from Michael McLeod to give Mississauga a 1-0 lead just 2:20 into the first period.

Just 34 seconds later Tippett struck again, tallying his 12^th of the season on a behind-the-net feed from Kitchener native Nathan Bastian, giving Mississauga a 2-0 lead at 2:54.

The Steelheads led 10-6 in shots as the teams headed to the first intermission, while Kitchener led 9-6 on the shot clock during a scoreless second period.

Mascherin didn't waste much time getting the Rangers on the board in the third period, as his power play goal just 31 seconds in to cut the Mississauga lead to 2-1, from Dylan Di Perna and Connor Bunnaman, at 19:29.

With just 2:36 to play, the Rangers were given another power play opportunity with Nicolas Hague - another Kitchener product - sent off for tripping, and the visitors capitalized.

Mascherin's second of the afternoon again was the product of his quick release, as he beat Ingham to tie the game 2-2 with just 1:30 left on the clock in regulation. Di Perna and Carty picked up the assists on the game tying goal.

Bracco would extend his season-long point streak to 10 games as he made a breakaway opportunity in the five-minute, 3-on-3 overtime period count, cashing in on his own rebound at the 1:56 mark to secure the come from behind victory for the Blueshirts. Greg Meireles sprung Bracco to start the play and earned the lone assist on the game winner.

Shots on goal were 9-6 Rangers in the third period and 2-1 in overtime for a game total of 26-23 Kitchener.

Kitchener was 2-for-5 on the power play, while Mississauga was 0-for-2 with the man advantage.

With two successful penalty kills, Heffner Lexus Toyota graciously donates another $20 to the Heffner Lexus Toyota PK Tally for a running total this season of $420 in support of Sun Life Financial Kids In Gear.

Bracco (KIT) (3), Mascherin (KIT) (2), and Tippett (MIS) (1) were selected as the Three Stars of the Game.

Jeremy Bracco, Darby Llewellyn and Dylan Di Perna each wore "A's" and skated as alternate captains for the Rangers.

The Rangers are back in action on Friday, October 28, when they host another Eastern Conference opponent, the Peterborough Petes, at 7:30pm.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 23, 2016


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