Highway 7 Rivalry Reignites as Rangers Drop Storm 4-2
February 23, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release
Adam Mascherin of the Kitchener Rangers
(Kitchener Rangers)
Adam Mascherin tallied two goals and an assist as the Kitchener Rangers defeated the Guelph Storm 4-2 in front of 6,542 fans at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex in the lone game played in the Ontario Hockey League on Tuesday night.
The game drew the ire of fans at multiple points during the evening, feeling the Rangers were repeatedly denied what appeared to be power play opportunities, or given a penalty when one didn't seem to be merited.
Nonetheless, Rangers assistant coach Daniel Tkaczuk said post-game that the Rangers were ultimately successful in focusing on their end goal - the win - and will have to do the same when they once again take on the Guelph Storm, this time at the Sleeman Centre, in their next game on Friday night.
"Our guys play hard, and the game is fast," Tkaczuk stated. "Our guys did a pretty good job of keeping their heads in [the game] and not letting distraction attempts throw them off.
"Guelph beat us the last time we played them, so we take this as a good win for our club and we focus on doing the exact same thing when we play them again on Friday."
Mascherin, who was selected as the game's first star, admitted he's no stranger to the rivalry that exists between the Rangers and the Storm, and that the best way for his team to react will be to take two more points from their division foe in three days time.
"I know, for years there's been that rivalry [between the Rangers and Storm] and it's not my first year experiencing that. But the key is learning how to keep your cool and knowing we see them again in just a matter of a few days.
"It's our very next game, and it's in their barn, so we just have to keep our composure and be prepared to play our game and pick up two points. That's what we're focusing on."
The Rangers - who led by a goal through 20 minutes of play - actually trailed the Storm in shots 11-10 after that first period. Mascherin said the game didn't necessarily play out the way they expected it to in the first period, but that the team came together nicely in the final forty minutes.
"I think [the game] started off as a weird first period for us. We've played a lot in the last month, but we have to grind it out for these last few down the stretch. I think we did that in the second and third here tonight."
The Rangers would outshoot the Storm 17-5 in the second, and 16-8 in the third en route to the win, which leaves them just one point back of the third place London Knights (85) and five back of the first place Erie Otters (89) in the Western Conference standings.
Darby Llewellyn opened the game's scoring with a pretty deflection off a Dmitrii Sergeev shot from the left point, giving the Rangers the 1-0 lead at 10:08 of the first period. The goal gives Llewellyn four goals and seven points in his last six games.
Mascherin's 31st goal of the season made it 2-0 Rangers at 8:17 of the second period, from Nick Magyar and Dylan Di Perna, but just over two minutes later the Storm would get on the board. Liam Stevens cut the Kitchener lead to 2-1, from Marc Stevens and Noah Carrol, at 10:40 to round out the second period scoring.
Shots were 17-5 in favour of the Rangers in the middle frame, and 27-16 after 40 minutes.
Brandon Robinson's 15th goal of the season came just 31 seconds into the third period of play, giving the Rangers back a two-goal lead, 3-1, from Mascherin and Ryan MacInnis. The Storm would respond shortly thereafter, once again cutting the Rangers lead to one when Marc Stevens scored his second goal of the season, unassisted, at the 1:52 mark.
Mascherin would pot his second of the night and 32nd of the season, from Di Perna and David Miller, at 7:19 to give the Rangers a 4-2 lead.
Connor Bunnaman would leave the game at the 9:46 mark of the third period after being high-sticked and cut, but no call was made by the referees. As the final minute of the game was ticking down, Llewellyn had a chance at an empty net goal, but banked it off the right post from just outside the Guelph blue line on the far side.
Noah Carroll was assessed a four minute penalty for spearing Rangers captain MacInnis as the buzzer sounded, ending the hostile Midwest Division affair.
Dawson Carty was sturdy between the pipes for the Rangers, picking up his eleventh win of the season (11-1-1-0), making 22 saves. Michael Giugovaz (14-13-5-2) took the loss for the Storm, his third straight game facing 40 or more shots, as he allowed four goals on 43 shots.
Neither team was successful on the man advantage, as the Rangers went 0-for-3 and the Storm, 0-for-2.
Marc Stevens (3), Di Perna (2) and Mascherin (1) were chosen as the Three Stars of the Game.
Darby Llewellyn, Frank Hora and Brandon Robinson each wore 'A's and skated as alternates to captain Ryan MacInnis.
The Rangers are back in action Friday night when they visit the Sleeman Centre to once again take on the Storm, February 26th, at 7:30pm.
Tickets for the Rangers next home game, or any other future Rangers home games are available online at kitchenerrangers.com, by calling Centre in the Square, or through The Aud Box Office.
Images from this story
 Adam Mascherin of the Kitchener Rangers |
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