Kitchener Rangers Complete Historic Comeback April 22 2025 Against Windsor Spitfires in Game 7 Thriller
In a dramatic conclusion to their Ontario Hockey League playoff series, the Kitchener Rangers completed a historic reverse sweep with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against the Windsor Spitfires at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario, on April 22, 2025.
The Rangers, who had lost the first three games of the best-of-seven series before mounting an improbable comeback, became just the sixth team in OHL history to win a series after initially trailing 3-0.
Game Summary
The contest began with Kitchener establishing an early advantage when forward Luke Ellinas found the back of the net midway through the first period, giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead heading into the intermission. Windsor’s Carter Hicks responded in the second period, notching the equalizer around the ten-minute mark to tie the game at 1-1.
Despite numerous scoring opportunities for both teams, neither squad could break the deadlock in the third period, forcing the decisive Game 7 into overtime. After nearly 15 minutes of tense extra time, Ellinas emerged as the hero for Kitchener, scoring his second goal of the night at the 14:28 mark of overtime to seal the 2-1 victory and complete the Rangers’ remarkable comeback.
Shots and Goaltending
The Spitfires outshot the Rangers 40-32 overall, but were repeatedly stonewalled by Kitchener netminder Jackson Parsons, who delivered an outstanding 39-save performance in the victory. At the other end, Windsor goaltender Joey Costanzo was nearly equal to the task, stopping 30 of 32 Kitchener shots.
Key Performances
Tanner Lam was instrumental in Kitchener’s victory, recording two assists, including one on Ellinas’s overtime winner. Ellinas proved to be the difference-maker with his two-goal performance, continuing his strong playoff showing for the Rangers.
For Windsor, injuries and illness played a significant role throughout the series. The Spitfires were without several key players at various points, including captain Liam Greentree, AJ Spellacy, and Carson Woodall, which undoubtedly impacted their ability to close out the series after building the initial 3-0 lead.
Series Impact
The loss marks a heartbreaking end to the season for the Spitfires, who had appeared poised to advance after winning the first three games of the series. For Kitchener, the victory propels them into the Western Conference final, where they’ll face the London Knights, who swept their series against the Erie Otters.
The dramatic conclusion to this series will certainly be remembered as one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent OHL playoff history, with Ellinas’s overtime heroics providing the exclamation point on Kitchener’s improbable run.
Photos: Tim Jarrold – In Play! magazine
