Sports stats



OHL Kitchener Rangers

Rangers Pull Off Gutsy Four-Goal Third Period Comeback In 6-5 Overtime Win Over Bulldogs

December 8, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Kitchener Rangers on game night
Kitchener Rangers on game night
(Kitchener Rangers, Credit: Tiffany Luke/Kitchener Rangers)

Carson Rehkopf netted the overtime winner sending Kitchener fans home happy with the team taking another two points. Trent Swick scored twice, including the game-tying goal in the third, as the Rangers rallied back from a 5-1 deficit. The Rangers gave up five unanswered goals through the first 40 minutes of play before storming back in the third period. Kitchener's overtime record now improves to three wins and one loss.

Headed into this game, Kitchener had trailed just seven times heading into the third, going 1-5-1 in those contests. The Rangers beat the odds with their comeback and will look to continue rolling in the rematch tomorrow in Brantford. Filip Mesar was instrumental in the win, scoring the first goal in the third and setting up two other goals. However, Rehkopf was the hero of the game after scoring the OT winner and tallying three assists in the impressive comeback.

Scoring Summary:

1st Period

BFD 0, KIT 1

6:31 Hunter Brzustewicz (7) - Luke Ellinas, Matthew Andonovski

The Rangers scored first on a brilliant effort by Luke Ellinas. Ellinas possessed the puck down low off a pass from Matthew Andonovski. While under pressure, Ellinas sent a backhanded pass to the slot to OHL defense point leader Hunter Brzustewicz. Brzustewicz sniped glove side to get The Aud going.

BFD 1, KIT 1

11:32 Ben Bujold (7) - Jake O'Brien, Marek Vanacker

Brantford tied the game on Ben Bujold's speed allowing Jake O'Brien to slip a pass between the Rangers defenders and onto Bujold's stick. He found himself one-on-one with Jackson Parsons and tied the game over the glove side shoulder of Parsons.

BFD 2, KIT 1

16:39 Nick Lardis (20) - Florian Xhekaj, Patrick Thomas

A stretch pass by Florian Xhekaj sent Nick Lardis in between two Rangers defenders and onto a breakaway in which he capitalized and gave Brantford the lead. On the breakaway, Lardis went to his backhand over Parsons's right pad to score.

2nd Period

BFD 3, KIT 1

10:21 Jorian Donovan (7) - Nick Lardis, Patrick Thomas

Nick Lardis sent a pass to Jorian Donovan who scored Brantford's third unanswered goal and extended their lead to two. Donovan deked around Hunter Brzustewicz at the Rangers' blueline and walked into the zone. From here he launched the puck on the net beating Parsons' blocker side.

BFD 4, KIT 1

14:45 Marek Vanacker (10) - Jake O'Brien, Ben Bujold

Brantford scored their second breakaway goal of the game. After some wonderful passing on the Breakout, Kitchener turned the puck over down low in the Brantford zone. On a quick breakout, Jake O'Brien flipped the puck to Marek Vanacker between the Rangers defenders and onto a breakaway. From here he rocketed home the shot glove side.

BFD 5, KIT 1

15:42 Calvin Crombie (5) - Ben Bujold

Less than a minute later, Ben Bujold dumped the puck into the Rangers corner. The puck bounced out and Calvin Crombie was first on it. Crombie skated directly over the puck and scored a between-the-legs goal, flipping the puck over Parsons' shoulder on the weak side. This goal ended Parsons's night.

3rd Period

BFD 5, KIT 2

4:38 Filip Mesar (13) - Matthew Sop, Carson Rehkopf

Filip Mesar scored just seconds following a Rangers powerplay bringing them back within three goals early in the third. Matthew Sop sent him the puck right outside the crease, stick side of David Egorov. He attempted a cross-crease pass; however, it bounced off the skate of a Brantford defender and into the net netting Mesar his 13th of the season.

BFD 5, KIT 3

8:21 Trent Swick (12) - Filip Mesar, Carson Rehkopf - PPG

Carson Rehkopf pulled off a successful deke just inside the Bulldogs blueline and sent the puck lateral to Filip Mesar. Mesar rocketed a shot along the ice right onto Trent Swick's stick which deflected the puck in.

BFD 5, KIT 4

15:29 Antonino Pugliese (12) - Cameron Mercer, Justin Bottineau

Antonino Pugliese battled hard to score Kitchener's third unanswered goal of the period. Cameron Mercer shot the puck on the net from the point, but it was blocked on its way in. Pugliese found the puck and took it behind the net, fighting off pressure he pushed it into a wrap-around. The wrap-around was assisted by Bulldogs defender Noah Van Vliet as it bounced off him and into the net.

BFD 5, KIT 5

15:55 Trent Swick (12) - Carson Rehkopf, Filip Mesar - PPG

26 seconds later the Rangers scored their fourth straight goal to tie the game. A penalty to Patrick Thomas at 15:46 for high sticking awarded Kitchener with a wonderful opportunity to tie the game. Tic-Tac-Toe passing started with Filip Mesar at the point and sent across the ice to Carson Rehkopf. Rehkopf sent it right back across to Trent Swick who tapped it into an empty net as David Egorov couldn't keep up with the passing.

Overtime

BFD 5, KIT 6

15:55 Carson Rehkopf (31) - Hunter Brzustewicz - PPG

A penalty to Nick Lardis for boarding 41 seconds into overtime gave Kitchener a four-on-three powerplay. On the powerplay, Kitchener caught Brantford in the Rangers zone and turned it quickly into a three-on-two for the Rangers. Carson Rehkopf held the puck in transition and brought it into the Bulldogs' zone. Electing to hold the puck he skated toward centre ice and toe-dragged the puck before demonstrating his league-leading shot and sending the fans home with a win.

The Stars:

First Star: Trent Swick (2G, 1A)

Second Star: Filip Mesar (1G, 2A)

Third Star: Jorian Donovan (1G)

The Goalies:

Jackson Parsons was pulled after giving up five goals on twelve shots, he was given a no-decision in the comeback win. In relief, Tristan Malboeuf stood tall making all seven saves required of him in 25:27 minutes of action. His record has improved to seven wins and two losses. On the other side of the ice, David Egorov made 35 of 41 potential saves, his record moves to three wins, three losses, and two overtime losses.

The Numbers Game:

Shots: BFD 24, KIT 41

Powerplay: BFD 0-3, KIT 3-5

FO%: BFD 51.7%, KIT 48.3%

Up Next: Kitchener travels to Brantford tomorrow for a 7 pm rematch before heading to Guelph for the third installment of the Highway 7 battle at 4 pm on Sunday. The Rangers will then rest throughout the week until Friday for their last home game before the holiday break against Sault Ste. Marie. Don't miss the action from the best team in the OHL and grab your tickets at The Aud Box Office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics




Images from this story

Kitchener Rangers on game night
Kitchener Rangers on game night
(Tiffany Luke/Kitchener Rangers)		   

• Discuss this story on the Ontario Hockey League message board...

Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2023


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.

OurSports Central