Rangers Drop Wild Game Friday, Return Home for Game Three Sunday
April 14, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release
London, Ont. - The Rangers scored three third period goals Thursday but it wasn't enough as London recorded an 8-4 victory over the Rangers in front of 9,036 fans at the Budweiser Gardens. Francesco Arcuri (Dallas Stars) scored twice for the Rangers, Reid Valade and Mitchell Martin both found the back of the net and both Marco Costantini and Marcus Vandenberg split time between-the-pipes.
London went to the power-play nine times in the game and had a 5-on-3-man advantage twice. The Knights scored two quick power-play goals, but the Rangers' penalty kill settled in to kill of six-straight power-plays to finish the game. Kitchener scored twice on the power-play themselves in the game and Arcuri's two goals for Kitchener make it four for the forward in the OHL playoffs.
London started on the front foot in the opening period of game two in this series. The Knights recorded three goals before the 10-minute mark. Logan Mailloux (Montréal Canadiens) scored on a point shot just 49 seconds into the game. Then, on two power-play opportunities, the Knights cashed in twice to make it a 3-0 game. Another point shot through a screen by Sam Dickinson beat Marco Costantini through traffic. To cap off their strong period, Ryan Winterton (Seattle Kraken) scored London's second power-play goal with a strong move from the goal line to the front of the net and beat Costantini far side. Shots favoured the Knights 12-9 through the opening 20 minutes.
Just like the first period, London scored in the first minute of the second period, this time 37 seconds in. Easton Cowan fired a shot at the back post elevated into the top left corner of the goal. Connor Federkow and Brody Crane both joined in on the scoring action to make it six unanswered goals for London in the game. Costantini had his night end after the fifth goal with Marcus Vandenberg coming in for relief.
Reid Valade got Kitchener on the board late in the second period with a power-play goal. Filip Mešár (Montréal Canadiens) found Valade in the slot to re-direct the puck across the line. But it was London with a 6-1 lead through 40 minutes of play and shots 33-15 for the Knights.
Kitchener outscored the Knights 3-2 in the third period, but it was London who doubled up Kitchener on the night 8-4. Mitchell Martin scored 1:29 into the third period and Francesco Arcuri (Dallas Stars) scored the next two goals for the Rangers, one coming on the power-play. Sean McGurn and Ruslan Gazizov scored the two third period goals for the Knights. Final shots ended 44-29 for the Knights.
Kitchener finished the game 2-for-3 on the power-play and 7-for-9 on the penalty kill. All three stars in the game belonged to members of the London Knights.
Next Up:
The Rangers return home for game three this Sunday at 2 p.m. and game four this Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 14, 2023
- Rangers Drop Wild Game Friday, Return Home for Game Three Sunday - Kitchener Rangers
- Saginaw Blanked by Sting, 3-0 in Game 1 - Saginaw Spirit
- Avon, Robertson Score as 67's Take Game One 4-2 - Peterborough Petes
- OHL Unveils Rosters and Schedule for 2023 Development Combine Presented by Dairy Farmers of Ontario - OHL
- San Jose Sharks Sign Firebirds' Defenseman Artem Guryev to Entry-Level Deal - Flint Firebirds
- Always Eventful When Saginaw, Sarnia Meet - Saginaw Spirit
- Braeden Kressler Called up by Maple Leafs, Reassigned to the Marlies - Flint Firebirds
- Saginaw Travels to Sarnia to Start Second Round Series - Saginaw Spirit
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
