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OHL Kitchener Rangers

Rangers Rally for 5-3 Win over Steelheads

January 15, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Kitchener Rangers and Young Fans
Kitchener Rangers and Young Fans
(Kitchener Rangers)

Adam Mascherin scored a pair of goals and newly appointed Kitchener Rangers captain Ryan MacInnis tallied a three point night as the Rangers downed the visiting Mississauga Steelheads 5-3 in front of 7,136 fans at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex on Friday night.

The game, which began at 7:38pm, didn't end until 10:02pm due to a power outage at the Auditorium during first period action. The game was delayed by more than 30 minutes before play finally resumed.

MacInnis (10-1525) and Mascherin (11-1425) each extended their personal point streaks to 16 and 14 games, respectively, while helping guide the Rangers (29-6-4-0) to victory. The loss drops the Steelheads to 21-18-1-3 on the season.

Mascherin was quick to give praise to his teammates following his 16th multi-point performance of the season.

"No matter who it is I play with out there, I'm comfortable with my teammates," said the winger, who was been held pointless in just four games all season. "We're all capable players and I've been fortunate to be finding success this season regardless of who I play with."

When asked about the effect that the power outage had on the team and their performance, Mascherin said ultimately the most important thing the Rangers set out to do was to retain their focus.

"We had a good first period, and we managed to stay with our game," he said. "The key for us was to remember to just stay focused mentally, and I think we did that and managed to have a good second period and shut down their chances in the third."

Darby Llewellyn was another goal scorer for the Rangers, and was pleased to come away with his first goal in six games.

"It was nice to get the monkey off my back," said Llewellyn. "It may have only been six games, but it was also over a month, and that was too long for my liking.

"Every time you get on the ice you want to do what you can with each shift. I'm just glad I was able to see some results personally tonight, and that the team could pick up another two points."

Dawson Carty got the start and remains undefeated in regulation with a record of 8-0-1-0, making 23 saves to earn the win. Jack Flinn (21-16-1-1) took the loss in goal for the Steelheads, allowing five goals while making 38 saves.

Mascherin opened the scoring at 13:17 of the first period to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead, assisted by David Miller and Dmitrii Sergeev. Jeremy Bracco put the Rangers up 2-0 with a power play goal at 15:52 of the frame, effectively earning another $100 donation to Clarky's Kids with the home power play goal, courtesy of Heffner Toyota.

Daniel Muzito-Bagenda put the Steelheads on the board at the 16:29 mark from Daniel DeSousa and Mason Marchment, making it a 2-1 game.

With 2:34 remaining in the first period, the power outage occurred. The leftover time was added onto the beginning of the second period and the teams changed ends once the extra time had ticked away. After a short break in action they played out the regularly scheduled following 20 minutes - and an action-filled 20 minutes it was.

The Steelheads only managed to muster their first shot on goal of the game more than halfway through the opening period, but came out with a much more rejuvenated effort at the commencement of the second period. Alexander Nylander from Michael McLeod at 8:29 tied the game 2-2, then the Steelheads took their first lead of the night at 16:53 on a goal by Marchment, assisted by Muzito-Bagenda. Their lead wouldn't last long, however, as MacInnis made it 3-3 with his 22nd goal of the season from Frank Hora and Brian Brosnan just 42 seconds later.

Llewellyn scored his 12th of the season to give the Rangers back the lead, 4-3, which proved to be the eventual game winner at 19:21 of the second from Gustaf Franzen and Jake Henderson. Shots were 31-16 Rangers after 40 minutes of play.

Mascherin's second goal of the game came by way of the power play at 2:25 of the third period to solidify the 5-3 win for Kitchener. Bracco and MacInnis picked up the assists on the goal, which earned another $100 donation to Clarky's Kids via Heffner Toyota. Final shots were 43-26 Kitchener.

Kitchener finished 2-for-5 on the power play, while the Steelheads were stymied on both their attempts with the man advantage.

Muzito-Bagenda (3), Mascherin (2) and MacInnis (1) were chosen as the Three Stars of the Game.

MacInnis played his first game as the 51st captain in Kitchener Rangers history. Brosnan, Hora and Brandon Robinson each wore 'A's and skated as alternate captains for the game.

The Rangers return to action on Tuesday when they host their Midwest division rivals, the London Knights, at 7pm.

Tickets for the Rangers next home game, or any other future Rangers home games are available online at kitchenerrangers.com, by calling Centre in the Square, or through The Aud Box Office.

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Kitchener Rangers and Young Fans
Kitchener Rangers and Young Fans
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2016


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