OHL Kitchener Rangers

Sarnia Uses Special Teams to Skate Past Rangers Sunday

Published on March 12, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Sarnia, Ont. - The Rangers finished off a three-game set in three days with a Sunday afternoon game in Sarnia. A short turnaround mixed with a time change was always going to make it tough for the Rangers to overcome. Sarnia jumped out to a 5-1 lead, and instead of packing it in, the Rangers tried to claw back making it a 5-3 game until Sandis Vilmanis potted one into the empty net. Sarnia a perfect 3-for-3 on the power-play in the game which helped propel their victory today.

Sarnia opened the scoring on their first power-play of the game. At 7:58, Luca Del Bel Belluz (Columbus Blue Jackets) found Nolan Burke (Nashville Predators) at the left faceoff dot and wired a shot far side into the top right corner. Kitchener had a response scoring three minutes later as Ben Gaudreau (San Jose Sharks) and a Sarnia defender collided trying to deflect a high bouncing puck and Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) was on the doorstep to collect the loose puck and slide it across the line.

Sarnia made good on their few chances in the period to score two unanswered goals and take a two-goal lead. Ethan Ritchie slid down from the point to the bottom of the left circle and beat Costantini short side past the blocker. Then, Nolan Burke scored his second of the game and 46th of the season as a shot was blocked and bounced right on to his stick at the backdoor to slot the puck home.

Sarnia leg 3-1 after the first period and shots favoured the Rangers 12-8.

Nolan Burke completed the hattrick 2:24 into the second period with another power-play goal for Sarnia to kick-off the middle frame. Then, Ty Voit (Toronto Maple Leafs) scored again on the power-play goal making it three in the game for Sarnia and a 5-1 score line.

Hunter Brzustewicz pulled a goal back for Kitchener as he had space to walk in from the blueline and snapped a shot into the top left corner. However, the teams headed into the second intermission with Sarnia leading 5-2 and shots 24-22 in favour of the Sting.

Lleyton Moore gave Kitchener a chance early in the third period as he scored 4:43 into the final frame. Moore through the puck on net and it took a deflection off the stick of a Sting defender and into the net. Kitchener battled hard to equalize, but that would be the closest the Rangers get as at 17:27, Sandis Vilmanis put the puck into the empty net with the Costantini pulled for the extra attacker.

The final score ended 6-3 in favour of the Sting and final shot tally ended 34-30 in favour of the Sting. Kitchener finished the game 0-for-2 on the power-play and 0-for-3 on the penalty kill. All three stars of the game were awarded to players of the Sarnia Sting. Voit (1G 2A), Del Bel Belluz (3A), and Burke (3G 1A).

Next Up: The Rangers return back to home-ice this Friday against the Saginaw Spirit. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. at The Aud and great seats are still available.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2023


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