Rangers use “compete and belief” to tie series with Soo
Posted Apr 25, 2018 10:34:32 PM.
Last Updated Apr 26, 2018 05:10:57 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It was a statement homestand for the Kitchener Rangers.
After being the first team all season to blank the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds the offence took over for Kitchener in Game 4 Wednesday.
The Rangers had a four-goal first period and routed the Greyhounds 7-4.
“I mentioned before the series started, we have compete and belief,” said Kitchener head coach Jay McKee, post-game. “Those are the two ingredients we have on our side.”
The Rangers didn’t stop competing and added two more goals jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the second period.
Before the period ended though, Taylor Raddysh used his foot to re-direct home his tenth of the post-season. It snapped Mario Culina’s shutout streak at over 100 minutes. He hadn’t allowed a goal since 7:50 into the third period of Game 2.
“The first was excellent,” said McKee. “There were times in the second we played well. When the score was 5-0 and 6-0, our guys started playing like Junior hockey players with a five-or-six goal lead.”
The Greyhounds scored three third-period goals making the score much closer than the game actually was, but McKee isn’t worried.
“You see it at every level of hockey. Guys let off the gas a bit,” said the bench boss. “We got our away from our game a bit, which is disappointing, but it’s also human nature.”
McKee’s big dogs were his big dogs. Adam Mascherin, Givani Smith, Kole Sherwood, Logan Brown and Logan Stanley each had a two-point night. But it was Mr. Utility, Joseph Garreffa who led the way offensively with four assists.
Mario Culina made 30 saves in the win.
With each team winning on home-ice, Kitchener travels to the Soo for Game 5 on Friday trying to snap that streak.
Game 6 is on Sunday. Don Cameron will be returning to the 570 NEWS broadcast booth for the game to bring you the call. Pre-game begins at 1:30 p.m.
