Rangers Focus on Playoffs After Sunday Deficit in London
March 26, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release
London, Ont. - Kitchener was on the opposite end of a 5-1 result Sunday night to finish off their regular season play. Despite the loss tonight, Kitchener finished the season taking points in five of their final six games. Reid Valade scored his 33rd goal of the season as Kitchener's lone goal and Marcus Vandenberg turned away 31 shots on the night.
Less than two minutes into the game Easton Cowan jumped on a loose puck in the slot and beat Marcus Vandenberg through the legs to give London an early 1-0 lead. Midway through the period at 10:22, London doubled their lead which a shot from the half-wall deflecting off George Diaco at the back post.
London led the Rangers 2-0 after 20 minutes of play and shots favoured the Knights 12-5.
Reid Valade got the Rangers within one on their second power-play of the game at 3:47 of the second period. Valade tried to centre a pass to the front of the net, but it took a deflection off a Knight player in front and made it past Brett Brochu. As London did in the first period, they responded with two goals of their own in the middle frame to take a 4-1 lead. Logan Mailloux (Montréal Canadiens) beat Vandenberg with a shot from the top of the right circle and Landon Sim, from the opposite circle, beat Vandenberg far side off the post and in.
The score was 4-1 for the Knights through 40 minutes of play and shots favoured London 25-12.
London added a fifth goal at the 12:48 mark of the third period through Denver Barkey's 22nd goal of the season. That was it for scoring in the game and London came away with a 5-1 victory. Final shots favoured the Knights 36-19. Kitchener finished the game 1-for-4 on the power-play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. All three stars of the game were awarded to Knights' skaters.
Next Up: Kitchener will face-off against the Windsor Spitfires in a best-of-seven series for the first round of the OHL Playoffs. The Rangers will play in Windsor this Thursday and Saturday, before hosting the Spitfires on Tuesday, Apr. 4 and Thursday, Apr. 6, both at 7 p.m. Rangers' playoff tickets are available now.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 26, 2023
- Rangers Focus on Playoffs After Sunday Deficit in London - Kitchener Rangers
- Spirit Fall 6-4 to Attack to Close Regular Season - Saginaw Spirit
- OHL Announces First Round Schedule for 2023 OHL Playoffs - OHL
- Misa Finishes Season as Leading Rookie Scorer - Saginaw Spirit
- Spirit Fall 6-4 to Attack to Close Regular Season - Saginaw Spirit
- Rangers Wrap-Up Regular Season in London Sunday - Kitchener Rangers
- Saginaw Closes Regular Season against Owen Sound - Saginaw Spirit
- IceDogs Game Day Preview - Niagara IceDogs
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