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OHL Kitchener Rangers

Rangers Blank Greyhounds 3-0 to Take Season Series Sunday

February 26, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Kitchener, Ont. - The Rangers posted a 3-0 victory over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in front of a standing-room only crowd of 7,139 fans at The Aud Sunday afternoon. With the win, Kitchener earned three of a possible four points on the weekend, have points in six of their last eight games and furthered their cushion on the Greyhounds for a playoff spot by six points, while playing two less games.

Marco Costantini earned a 40-save shutout for his third blank of the season. Danny Zhilkin (Winnipeg Jets) scored the game-winner by tallying the icebreaker 1:10 into the third period and Francesco Arcuri (Dallas Stars) had a three-point night.

The shots favoured the Greyhounds 13-10 in the opening frame, but the better chances went to the Rangers. Filip Mešár (Montréal Canadiens) ripped a one-timer off the crossbar on a 2-on-1 break on one chance and then Reid Valade weaved his way through two Greyhound defenders to get in alone on a breakaway but was stopped on the backhand by the right pad of Charlie Schenkel. The game remained scoreless as the team headed into the first intermission.

It was more of the same in the second period with neither team able to find the back of the net. Both teams had two trips with the man-advantage and there was two minutes of four-on-four play, but no goals to show for. Shdots favoure the Rangers through 40 minutes of play 26-25.

It didn't take long for the action to begin in the third period. Marco Costantini made a cross-crease desperation save one minute into the period to keep Sault Ste. Marie off the scoreboard. That save paid immediate dividends as a couple seconds later at 1:10, Kitchener took the lead. Danny Zhilkin finished off a cross-ice pass sliding the puck through the legs of the Soo netminder.

Kitchener doubled their lead at 7:52 with Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) cashing in on a Rangers power-play for his 34th of the season. With the Greyhounds goalie pulled, Francesco Arcuri (Dallas Stars) added an insurance goal to make it a 3-0 Kitchener lead.

The final score ended 3-0 in favour of the Blueshirts, shots favoured the Hounds 40-38. Kitchener finished the game 1-for-4 on the power-play and was a perfect 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. Francesco Arcuri was awarded the game's third star with one goal and two assists and Marco Costantini was awarded the game's first star with a 40-save shutout performance.

Next Up: The Rangers head to Oshawa for mid-week Wednesday OHL action. Kitchener will face the Generals to open March on the first of the month at the Tribute Communities Centre with puck drop set for 7:05 p.m. The Rangers are back on home-ice this Friday against the Erie Otters at 7:30 p.m. Limited seats are available.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2023


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