
Rangers Draw Even with Game 4 Win in Sarnia
April 12, 2018 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release
Make it a best-of-three for the second straight playoff series.
The Kitchener Rangers scored twice in the third period to skate to a 5-3 win in front of 4,289 fans at Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Game 4 on Thursday night.
As was the case with their first-round series vs. the Guelph Storm, the Rangers have split the first four games of their series, 2-2, with Game 5 set for tomorrow night, April 13 at 7:30pm at The Aud.
Tickets to Game 5 (Home Game "G") are on sale now with purchase options listed below.
The five goals were the most goals allowed in a game by the Sarnia Sting since Game 1 of Round 1 vs. the Windsor Spitfires when they were defeated 6-2.
The Sting led just once when they opened the scoring in the opening moments of the first period. The hosts twice fought back to tie the game after the Blueshirts took leads, but they failed to find the scoresheet in the third period as the Rangers skated to the road win.
Givani Smith, Kole Sherwood and Connor Bunnaman each notched a goal and an assist in the win, while Logan Brown also stood out with a pair of assists. Austin McEneny and Jonathan Yantsis were the other goal scorers for the Rangers, who earned their second road win of the playoffs.
Mario Culina made 33 saves to earn the win in goal for Kitchener, while Justin Fazio allowed five goals on 32 shots and suffered the loss in goal for Sarnia.
Connor Schlichting gave the Sting a 1-0 lead just 2:07 into the game, assisted by Drake Rymsha and Jonathan Ang, but the visitors would soon answer back.
Sherwood continued his goal-scoring potency, potting his 10th of the playoffs at 5:14 to make it a 1-1 game, assisted by Brown and Adam Mascherin.
Just 2:40 later it was the Rangers with the lead, as McEneny's shot from the point beat Fazio to make it 2-1 Kitchener, assisted by Sherwood at 7:54 to round out first period scoring.
Shots on goal through the opening frame were tied, 7-7.
Midway through the period the hosts would tie things up, 2-2, as Brayden Guy scored his first playoff goal, from Nick Grima, at 9:56.
The Rangers continued to get secondary scoring depth as Yantsis potted his third of the playoffs at 14:34 from Jack York to put the Rangers up 3-2, but only eight seconds later the lead evaporated as Jordan Kyrou scored his first of the playoffs (while a goaltender was in net) to make it 3-3 at 14:42 from Jordan Ernst and Adam Ruzicka.
The game entered the second intermission deadlocked 3-3, with shots favouring the Rangers, 25-21.
At 8:03 of the third period the game winner was scored, and it came on the stick of Smith, from Bunnaman and Garreffa.
Kitchener extended its lead to 5-3 just under two minutes later as Bunnaman etched his fourth of the postseason, from Smith and Michael Vukojevic at 10:00.
The Sting pulled Fazio with 2:38 to play in the third period, but to no avail as the Rangers held on for the two-goal lead, and eventual win.
The Rangers were 0-for-1 on the power play, while the Sting were 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
Connor Schlichting (SAR) (3), Kole Sherwood (KIT) (2), and Connor Bunnaman (KIT) (1) were selected as the Three Stars of the Game.
Logan Stanley, Adam Mascherin, and Logan Brown each wore an "A" and skated as alternates to Rangers' captain Connor Bunnaman.
Tickets to all Kitchener Rangers home playoff games for Round 2 are $26.00 each for adults, $22.00 for children 12 and under including HST. They are available in person or by calling the Activa Box Office at The Aud, from Centre in the Square (519) 578-1570 -or- 1-800-265-8977, or by purchasing online.
Join in the conversation on all things Rangers by using #RaiseTheShield and #OHLPlayoffs. You can follow the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @OHLRangers.
Western Conference Semi-Final
(2) Kitchener Rangers vs. (3) Sarnia Sting
Series tied 2-2
Game 1 - Friday, April 6: Sarnia Sting 2 at Kitchener Rangers 4
Game 2 - Sunday, April 8: Sarnia Sting 3 at Kitchener Rangers 2 OT
Game 3 - Tuesday, April 10: Kitchener Rangers 1 at Sarnia Sting 4
Game 4 - Thursday, April 12: Kitchener Rangers 5 at Sarnia Sting 3
Game 5 - Friday, April 13: Sarnia Sting at Kitchener Rangers 7:30pm
Game 6 - Sunday, April 15: Kitchener Rangers at Sarnia Sting 5pm
*Game 7 - Tuesday, April 17: Sarnia Sting at Kitchener Rangers 7pm
(*if necessary)
Western Conference Quarter-Final
(2) Kitchener Rangers vs. (7) Guelph Storm
Kitchener wins series 4-2
Game 1 - Friday, March 23: Guelph Storm 2 at Kitchener Rangers 7
Game 2 - Sunday, March 25: Guelph Storm 1 at Kitchener Rangers 2
Game 3 - Tuesday, March 27: Kitchener Rangers 5 at Guelph Storm 7
Game 4 - Wednesday, March 28: Kitchener Rangers 4 at Guelph Storm 6
Game 5 - Friday, March 30: Guelph Storm 2 at Kitchener Rangers 10
Game 6 - Sunday, April 1: Kitchener Rangers 5 at Guelph Storm 2
Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 12, 2018
- Fronts Score Early and Often Leading to 7-1 Win, 3-2 Series Lead - Kingston Frontenacs
- Offensive Outburst Propels Frontenacs to a 3-2 Series Lead - Barrie Colts
- Rangers Draw Even with Game 4 Win in Sarnia - Kitchener Rangers
- Sting Fall 5-3 to Rangers in Game Four, Series Tied 2-2 - Sarnia Sting
- IceDogs Drop Heartbreaking Game 5 to End OHL Playoffs Run - Niagara IceDogs
- Firebirds to Host Annual 'Blue & White Game' Saturday, April 21st at Iceland Arenas - Flint Firebirds
- Nine Wolves Prospects Named to Gold Cup Rosters - Sudbury Wolves
- Five Greyhounds' to Participate in 2018 OHL Gold Cup - Soo Greyhounds
- Hounds Set to be #HumboldtStrong () - Soo Greyhounds
- Rosters Revealed for 2018 OHL Gold Cup - OHL
- Wolves Acquire Three in Under 18 Draft - Sudbury Wolves
- Additional Parking & Enforced Parking Rules Tonight - Sarnia Sting
- Spirit Add Two Players in 2018 U-18 Priority Selection Draft - Saginaw Spirit
- Hounds Set to be #HumboldtStrong - Soo Greyhounds
- Otters Add Offense at U18 OHL Priority Selection - Erie Otters
- McNair, Rauch, Ebrahim Selected in U18 Priority Selection - Soo Greyhounds
- Bulldogs Take 3-1 Series Lead in Niagara - Brantford Bulldogs
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