OHL Kitchener Rangers

Rangers Snap North Bay's Seven-Game Winning Streak Sunday

November 13, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


North Bay, Ont. - The Kitchener Rangers finished a three-games-in-three-days weekend with a 4-3 road victory over North Bay to end the Battalion's seven-game winning streak Sunday. Filip Mešár (Montreal Canandiens), Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) and Kitchener-native Matthew Sop each recorded two point-games, Trent Swick found the back of the net in his return to the lineup since illness and Marco Costantini made 29 saves on 32 shots in the victory.

A much better start Sunday afternoon for the Rangers as they scored first and broke the ice midway through the opening frame. Right after the commercial break, Matthew Sop forechecked hard after a lost faceoff, winning the puck behind the net and feeding Filip Mešár (Montréal Canadiens) to roof a puck in tight short side. A great job by the Rangers coaching staff and video team negating a Battalion power-play goal for goaltender interference as Marco Costantini was bumped in his crease. The call paid dividends as on the same power-play Kitchener doubled their lead with a shorthanded goal at 11:55. Matthew Andonovski will a good outlet pass into the neutral zone for Reid Valade who drew three North Bay skaters to him and floated a pass over to Joseph Serpa all alone to snipe a shot under the blocker of Charlie Robertson.

Late in the period the goalies took over keeping the score at 2-0. First Charlie Robertson stopped Joseph Serpa on a shorthanded breakaway and cleared a shot that squeaked through his arm off the goal line. Then Marco Costantini committed grand larceny taking away a cross-crease one timer, sliding from right-to-left to make desperation glove save. The period ended with the Rangers ahead 2-0 and shots favouring the Battalion 11-9.

North Bay drew within one as they got on the board through Kyle McDonald's ninth goal of the season. A saucer pass by Owen Van Steensel from the high slot was received by Kyle on his backhand skating across the goal, dragged the puck through the crease around Marco Costantini and slid the puck into the empty net.

After that goal, Kitchener settled back in and took over the game once again. First through captain Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) at 10:51, extended the lead back to two. Matthew Sop with his second point of the game found Pinelli in the high slot with his back turned to the goal. Francesco turned and fired in one motion beating the North Bay goaltender far side above the blocker. Then it was Pinelli's turn to set up a goal as he skated from below the left circle around the net and founding a driving Trent Swick off the bench in the slot to one-time a shot into the top left corner in his return to the Kitchener lineup. That goal coming 72 seconds before the period end and ended with Kitchener leading 4-1 and shots favouring North Bay 21-16.

North Bay scored early and midway through the third period to make it a one goal game with eight minutes to play in regulation. Kyle Jackson and Dalyn Wakely scoring the goals respectively. With 58 seconds to play in regulation and the goalie pulled Kitchener received a minor penalty and was down 6 on 4. The Rangers were able to block out the Battalion attack and hold on for the victory. The final score was 4-3 Kitchener and shots favoured the Battalion 32-17.

Kitchener ended the game 0/4 on the power-play, a perfect 4/4 on the penalty kill and added a shorthanded goal in the game. The first star of the game was awarded to Filip Mešár with a goal and an assists, the second start was awarded to Kyle Jackson of the North Bay Battalions, and the third star was awarded to Francesco Pinelli with a goal and an assist as well.

Next Up:

Kitchener return home for another Friday night game at The Aud. On this occasion Kitchener will be welcoming the same North Bay Battalion to The Aud. Puck drop is at 7:30p.m. as the Rangers kick off another three games in three days stretch next weekend.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 13, 2022


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