Windsor, Ont. – Down 2-0, the Kitchener Rangers fought back to earn a 3-2 lead on the road in Windsor Saturday but Seattle Kraken 2022 NHL first-round pick (4th overall) Shane Wright recorded a hat-trick to lift Windsor to a 6-3 victory to snap the Rangers six-game winning streak. Kitchener-native Matthew Sop scored twice for the Rangers and Marcus Vandenberg made 30 saves on 34 shots.
Eight minutes into the opening period, Kitchener’s Reid Valade was handed a match penalty for a slew-foot giving Windsor a five-minute power-play. On the ensuing man advantage, Windsor was able to cash in once to open the scoring in the game. Shane Wright (Seattle Kraken) snapped a shot short side over the glove of Marcus Vandenberg from the right faceff dot. Matthew Maggio (New York Islanders) recorded his 100th point of the season with an assist on the play.
Windsor led 1-0 through 20 minutes of play with shots 14-11 in favour of the Spitfires.
It took Windsor just 1:34 into the second period to double their advantage as Matthew Maggio setup Jacob Homes at the blueline to one-time a shot that beat Marcus Vandenberg from point. Just over the midway point in the period at 11:59, Hunter Brzustewicz fed Filip Mešár (Montréal Canadiens) at the top of the left circle who beat Mathais Onuska with a one-timer. Mešár scored his 11th goal of the season on the power-play.
With the teams headed to the locker-room after 40 minutes of play, shots were even 23-23 and Windsor held a slight 2-1 advantage.
Kitchener tied the game up at 2-2, 1:08 into the third period. Matthew Sop followed up on a rebound in the slot to extend his goal streak to five games. Then, at 10:10, Sop doubled up shorthanded as Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) had three Windsor defender’s eyes on him and fed Sop at the backdoor.
Unfortunately for Kitchener, the top line of Windsor took over and scored four unanswered goals, two via the empty net. Matthew Maggio knotted the game at 3-3 before two goals from Shane Wright to complete his hat trick. Oliver Peer added the second empty net goal to give Windsor a 6-3 victory.
Final shots in the game ended 37-36 in favour of the Rangers. Kitchener finished the game 1-for-2 on the power-play and 1-for-2 on the penalty kill. Matthew Sop earned the game’s third star with a two-goal performance, one coming short-handed.
Next Up: Kitchener completes their three-game weekend in Sarnia with a matinée game Sunday. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m. at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena. The Rangers then return to the Aud on Mar. 17 against the Saginaw Spirit and great seats are still available here.
Photo Credit: Remo Agostino / Windsor Spitfires
For inquiries, contact:
Dominic Hennig
Senior Director, Broadcasting, Communications & Hockey Operations
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
519-497-9342
dhennig@kitchenerrangers.com
