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Kitchener Rangers

London Takes Game 3 Lead in Series with 6-4 Win

April 17, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Kitchener Rangers' Hunter Brzustewicz in action
Kitchener Rangers' Hunter Brzustewicz in action
(Kitchener Rangers, Credit: Tiffany Luke/Kitchener Rangers)

London took game three 6-4 to take a 3-0 series advantage against the Rangers. Kitchener came back from 4-1 to tie the game but was unable to find the go-ahead goal. The game was full of action including five power play goals in the second period, three of which came from the Rangers. Filip Mešár and Eduard Šalé extended their point streaks in the game. Mešár is now at six games and Šalé at four. For the second time this series, a Rangers defenceman was hurt due to a dangerous hit.

Scoring Summary:

1st Period

LDN 1, KIT 0

0:15 Sam Dickinson (1) - Max McCue, Kaleb Lawrence

Sam Dickinson didn't waste any time scoring the first goal of the game, netting one from the high slot. Kaleb Lawrence broke the puck into the Rangers' end and sent a pass out wide to Max McCue. McCue recentered the puck to Dickinson who launched a heavy wrist shot low glove into the back of the net.

LDN 2, KIT 0

3:50 Kasper Halttunen (5) - Ruslan Gazizov

London extended their lead in quick succession with a fortunate bounce as the puck deflected off Kasper Halttunen and past Jackson Parsons. Ruslan Gazizov held a clearing attempt in at the Rangers blueline and sent a wrist shot towards the net. The shot hit Halttunen in the slot, drastically changing directions and sneaking into the back of the net.

2nd Period

LDN 3, KIT 0

1:04 Jacob Julien (2) - Sam Dickinson, Denver Barkey - PPG

Jacob Julien scored from the glove side faceoff circle on the power play to put London up by three goals. Luke Ellinas was assessed a high-sticking penalty at 19:12 of the first period leading to a power play. On the man advantage, Sam Dickinson received the puck in the middle of the Rangers' blueline, where he sent it down to Julien. He quickly fired the puck on the net and a diving Jackson Parsons almost got all of the puck, however, it squeaked through his five-hole.

LDN 3, KIT 1

5:11 Adrian Misaljevic (2) - Luca Romano, Filip Mešár - PPG

Adrian Misaljevic scored Kitchener's first power play goal of the series blocker side to cut the lead down to two. Sawyer Boulton took a holding penalty at 3:34 to give the Rangers the man advantage. Luca Romano carried the puck into the slot and sent a cross-ice pass to Misaljevic who scored blocker side on a sprawling Michael Simpson who never stood a chance.

LDN 4, KIT 1

7:20 Jacob Julien (3) - Denver Barkey, Kasper Halttunen - PPG

London brought the lead back to three as Jacob Julien scored on the power play. Cameron Mercer was handed a two-minute minor for tripping at 6:57 which led to the Rangers penalty kill. Kasper Halttunen sent a pass up to the blueline to Denver Barkey. Barkey spotted Julien all by himself parked on top of the crease and sent a pass down to him, splitting the Rangers penalty kill. Julien deflected the pass up and in to reestablish the lead.

LDN 4, KIT 2

13:33 Trent Swick (3) - Adrian Misaljevic, Cameron Reid - PPG

Trent Swick flipped the puck over Michael Simpson on the power play to cut the lead in half. Kaleb Lawrence took a five-minute major for a dangerous check to the head on Rangers' defenceman Simon Motew. Cameron Reid set the play up sending a one-timer pass to Adrian Misaljevic who fired it on the net. The rebound came out to Swick who flipped the puck up and into the net over Simpson's glove.

LDN 4, KIT 3

15:52 Eduard Šalé (5) - Filip Mešár, Carson Rehkopf - 5 v 3 PPG

Eduard Šalé brought the Rangers back within one as he put the puck right below the crossbar glove side. The Rangers still had the man advantage from Kaleb Lawrence's five-minute major penalty, and then Max McCue took a two-minute penalty for blindside hit which led to the goal. Filip Mešár brought the puck down to the bottom of the blocker side faceoff circle and sent a pass cross-crease to Šalé. He immediately sniped it over the glove-side shoulder of Michael Simpson to put the Rangers on the cusp of a comeback.

3rd Period

LDN 4, KIT 4

3:13 Cameron Mercer (1) - Matheas Stark, Carson Rehkopf

Cameron Mercer knotted the game at four by tipping the puck in the slot past Michael Simpson. Carson Rehkopf started the play off banking a pass off the boards up to the point to Matheas Stark. Stark fired a shot on the net which was tipped by Cameron Mercer and in blocker side.

LDN 5, KIT 4

9:26 Jacob Julien (4) - Denver Barkey, Jackson Edward

London regained the lead as Jacob Julien scored backhanded around Jackson Parsons. A long outlet pass by Jackson Edward began the play. Denver Barkey carried it in deep before sending a backhand to Julien on top of the crease. He took the puck around Jackson Parsons and scored his hat trick goal.

LDN 6, KIT 4

19:44 Isaiah George (3)

Isaiah George took possession of the puck in his own end before firing it down and sealing the game.

The Stars:

First Star: Jacob Julien (3G)

Second Star: Adrian Misaljevic (1G, 1A)

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

The Goalies:

Michael Simpson made his seventh appearance of the playoffs making 25 saves on 29 shots to maintain his win streak and extend it to seven. Jackson Parsons made his ninth start of the playoffs for the Rangers, stopping 28 of 33 shots.

The Numbers Game:

Shots: LDN 34, KIT 29

Powerplay: LDN 2-6, KIT 3-6

FO%: LDN 44.4%, KIT 55.6%

Up Next: Game four takes place on Thursday at The Aud in what is a must-win game for the Rangers. Make sure you secure your seats to the playoff action at The Aud Box Office Sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics




Images from this story

Kitchener Rangers' Hunter Brzustewicz in action
Kitchener Rangers' Hunter Brzustewicz in action
(Tiffany Luke/Kitchener Rangers)		   

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