Windsor Spitfires Defeat Kitchener Rangers 6-2 to Take Lead in OHL Western Conference Semi-final Series
The Windsor Spitfires defeated the Kitchener Rangers 6-2 on Tuesday night to take a 2 games to 1 lead in their Ontario Hockey League Western Conference semi-final series. The Spitfires also regained home-ice advantage in the series with the win at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.
Wyatt Johnston scored twice and added two assists to pace the Spitfires (2-1) offensively while Daniel D’Amico, Louka Henault, Will Cuylle and Matthew Maggio all scored once for Windsor.
The game, did, however get off to a dubious start for the Spitfires after left-winger Josh Currie was called for a five-minute major and a game misconduct for a check from behind just 14 seconds into the game and it didn’t take long for the Rangers (1-2) to take advantage of their extended powerplay as Mike Petizian scored to give Kitchener a 1-0 lead 88 seconds into the game.
Currie’s penalty will be reviewed by league officials to determine if supplementary discipline will be given to the Spits forward. That decision should be made in time for game four on Thursday in Kitchener.
Simon Motew scored the Rangers only other goal and his late second period marker halted Windsor’s number of unanswered goals at six.
Jackson Parsons started in net for the Rangers and made 20 saves before being pulled in the second period and being replaced by Pavel Cajan who made 21 stops in a relief effort. Matt Onuska, who was making his ninth consecutive start in goal for the Spitfires this post-season, made 27 saves while picking up his sixth playoff win this spring.
The series opened last Saturday (May 7) at the WFCU Centre, just two days after the Rangers eliminated the London Knights in overtime (4-3) in game seven of the OHL Western Conference quarterfinal series.
Alex Christopoulos paced the Spitfires (1-0) offensively with three goals and Henault, Andrew Perrott and Johnston all scored once in a 6-5 win over the Rangers(0-1) Cuylle and D’Amico both chipped in with a pair of assists while Onuska made 27 saves.
Joseph Serpa and Mitchel Martin both scored twice and Petizian added a single marker for Kitchener. Serpa’s second goal of the game came with just 17 seconds remaining in the third period and with Cajan on the bench in favour of an extra skater. Cajan made 33 stops in the series opener.
In game two of the series the next night at the WFCU Centre Trent Swick, Reid Valade, Jack Harper and Serpa (empty net) all scored once for the Rangers (1-1) in a 4-2 win over Windsor. Perrott and Johnston replied for the Spitfires (1-1), who lost for the second time in their last three games at home after having had a 16-game unbeaten streak at the WFCU Centre snapped by the Sarnia Sting in overtime last month. Parsons made 37 saves in his series debut for the Rangers while Onuska made 27 stops at the other end.
Game four is Thursday night (May 12) at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium before the series shifts back to the WFCU Centre for game five on Saturday night (May 14) Opening face-off or both games is 7:05 pm.