Rangers force Soo to Game 7 to see who will play Bulldogs
KITCHENER — Kole Sherwood did his talking on the ice.
The Kitchener Rangers winger was a hot topic leading into Sunday’s must-win game against Sault Ste. Marie at the Aud.
The Greyhounds wanted Sherwood suspended for the potential Western Conference-clinching affair, after they felt he delivered a knee-on-knee hit to defenceman Rasmus Sandin in Friday’s Game 5 in the Soo.
They even sent a video of the hit to the Ontario Hockey League to bolster their case — to no avail.
Then in Game 6 they watched Sherwood score the game-winning goal in overtime to cap a 4-3 Rangers win and set up a Game 7 Monday to decide which team will move on to the OHL championship against the Hamilton Bulldogs.
“It’s a kid’s dream to be this far,” said Sherwood, who skated by the Soo bench to celebrate after the emotional tally. “It’s a big win. We just have to play our game and we’ll be fine.”
The good news? Kitchener is 4-1 in Game 7s during the past 20 years. The team has clinched a series win in a sudden death match in 2003 (Plymouth), ’08 (Belleville), ’10 (London) and ’12 (Plymouth), while losing in ’11 (Plymouth).
Now, for the bad news. The Rangers have to beat the ’Hounds at the Essar Centre, which is something they’ve failed to do in five tries this season. The club hasn’t tasted victory in the Soo barn since Feb. 17 of last year.
“This is the opportunity that we would have hoped for,” said Kitchener bench boss Jay McKee. “In a Game 7 anything can happen. The intensity is going to be very high. It’s a moment that these players want to play for. It’s why you play the game.”
Sherwood jammed in his teamhigh 14th playoff goal past Greyhound goalie Matthew Villalta at 13:12 of extra time.
“It’s disappointing to lose that hockey game,” said Soo skipper Drew Bannister.
Rangers goalie Mario Culina
was brilliant, yet again, making 45 saves to keep his team alive.
Sault Ste. Marie is no stranger to Game 7s either. The ‘Hounds went the distance and beat Owen Sound 9-7 on home ice to decide the Western Conference semis.
“We’ve been in this position before,” said Bannister. “For us we’re going home to a place that we’re very comfortable and we play well in.”
Kitchener is hoping to harness the momentum from Sunday’s win and use it to pull off an upset Monday night back in the Soo.
“Our guys have competed hard through this whole series,” said McKee. “One more shot at it and you get to keep playing. You don’t show up, you won’t be playing anymore. That’s the bottom line.”