Kitchener's Season Comes to Close as London Takes Game Four

April 19, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release

London took game four to end the series, winning 4-3. Jacob Julien scored in the first minute of the game before Carson Rehkopf tied it up halfway through the first period. From here London scored three unanswered which proved too much for Kitchener to climb back from. Trent Swick scored twice in the comeback effort, once in the final minute of the second period and once with the extra attacker in the final three minutes of the game.

In the playoffs Filip Mešár led the team in points with 16 while Eduard Šalé led the Blueshirts with five goals. Jackson Parsons made all ten playoff starts for the Rangers finishing with a 3.73 goals-against average and an 0.878 save percentage.

Box Score

Highlights

Scoring Summary:

1st Period

LDN 1, KIT 0

0:39 Jacob Julien (5) - Ruslan Gazizov,

Jacob Julien put London on the board early, tucking the puck in off a deke in-tight. Ruslan Gazizov received a pass from Julien to set him up for a one-timer. Gazizov opted to pass the puck back to Julien as he cut down towards Jackson Parsons. In tight Julien faked to his backhand before taking it back to his forehand and putting it around Parsons.

LDN 1, KIT 1

11:15 Carson Rehkopf (6) - Hunter Brzustewicz, Matheas Stark

Carson Rehkopf evened the game up at one scoring on a wrist shot from the hashmarks. He received the puck at center ice from Hunter Brzustewicz before skating down the wall to the hashmarks of the London zone, blocker side of Michael Simpson. From here he rifled a shot over the glove side shoulder of Simpson, who got a piece of it but not enough as it rolled over the goal line.

2nd Period

LDN 2, KIT 1

13:54 Jacob Julien (6) - Kasper Halttunen, Easton Cowan - PPG

Jacob Julien regained the lead for London as he put the rebound of a blocked shot in. A penalty was called on Filip Mešár for high sticking at 12:10 leading to the power play opportunity for London. On the power play, Easton Cowan sent a cross ice pass to Kasper Halttunen who fired the shot towards the net. The shot was blocked by Hunter Brzustewicz however, the rebound rolled out from under multiple bodies to Julien on top of the crease and he put in.

LDN 3, KIT 1

16:52 Jacob Julien (7) - Jackson Edward, Ruslan Gazizov

Jacob Julien scored his second hat trick of the series to double the lead for London. A cross ice pass to Jackson Edward from Ruslan Gazizov caused Cameron Reid to dive to block a shot. Edward opted not to shoot but rather pass as it snuck under Reid to Julien in front of the net. He buried it on Jackson Parsons for his seventh goal of the series.

LDN 4, KIT 1

17:46 Kasper Halttunen (6) - Sam Dickinson

Kasper Halttunen deflected a shot from Sam Dickinson at the point to score London's third unanswered goal of the game. Sam Dickinson held the puck in off a clearing attempt before immediately sending a wrist shot towards the net. Through traffic the shot was deflected by Halttunen down towards the ice and in.

LDN 4, KIT 2

19:42 Trent Swick (6) - Matthew Sop, Matthew Andonovski

Trent Swick scored late in the second period to bring the game back within two. An outlet pass by Matthew Andonovski to Matthew Sop allowed Sop to skate deep into the London zone. Sop dropped the puck back to Swick in the slot who skated into it and fired it in glove side past Michael Simpson who never saw the puck.

3rd Period

LDN 4, KIT 3

3:20 Trent Swick (7) - Filip Mešár Trent Swick - 6 on 5

Trent Swick brought the Rangers back within one with the extra attacker as he tipped the puck in five-hole from on top of the crease. Hunter Brzustewicz sent the puck down to the blocker side corner to Filip Mešár. Mešár skated up to the faceoff circle before sending a hard pass down to Swick who deflected the puck just enough to get it by Michael Simpson.

The Stars:

First Star: Jacob Julien (3G)

Second Star: Kasper Halttunen (1G, 1A)

Third Star: Trent Swick (2G)

Honorary Third Star: Simon Motew

The Goalies:

Michael Simpson allowed three goals on 29 shots to extend his playoff win streak to eight games. In net for Kitchener was Jackson Parsons who started all ten games for the Rangers in the playoffs. He made 25 saves on 29 shots as his playoff record ended at 4-6.

The Numbers Game:

Shots: LDN 29, KIT 29

Powerplay: LDN 1-2, KIT 0-2

FO%: LDN 44.6%, KIT 55.4%

Thank you for following us all season long. Stay tuned for Rangers updates on our social media platforms and at kitchenerrangers.com.

Kitchener Rangers' Hunter Brzustewicz congratulates London Knights' Jacob Julien (Tiffany Luke/Kitchener Rangers)

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