Knights rally to slay Rangers
LONDON — The Canadian Hockey League’s most potent line may be gone but the London Knights are still firing.
The green and gold rallied from a three-goal deficit to down the Kitchener Rangers 5-4 Thursday night at Budweiser Gardens to continue their domination over their midwest division foes.
The Knights have now bested the Blueshirts in eight consecutive contests dating back to last December. That stretch includes a gutting four game sweep in the Ontario Hockey League western conference playoff semifinals.
The Rangers were on track to break the skid.
The visitors outplayed the defending Memorial Cup champions and had a comfortable 3-0 advantage halfway through the game.
Adam Mascherin got it going by threading a cross-ice pass to linemate Jeremy Bracco who bagged his seventh of the season for a 1-0 lead midway through the first period.
The Rangers piled on in the second.
Joseph Garreffa’s centring attempt went off the stick of London defenceman Evan Bouchard and past keeper Tyler Johnson. Then rookie Dylan Seitz snapped a wrist shot exactly one minute later for a commanding lead.
But that only seemed to spark the green machine.
The Knights scored a pair — by Cliff Pu and J.J. Piccinich — in 1:09 to make it a one-goal game heading into the final frame.
In the third, the league’s top power play went to work during a five-on-three and Piccinich added his second of the affair.
Veteran blueliner Doug Blaisdell restored Kitchener’s lead with his first of the season midway through the period only to see Robert Thomas knot things up yet again about three minutes later.
Knights rearguard Victor Mete delivered the dagger 40 seconds shy of overtime.
It’s taking time for London to find their identity this season. And for good reason. No other OHL club lost more firepower than the Bud boys.
The team’s top line of Mitch Marner, Christian Dvorak and Matthew Tkachuk — all in the NHL — left a massive void after combining to score 121 goals and 223 assists for the league champs last season.
“It’s no secret how good they were,” said Pu, whose club improved to 5-2-1-1. “They won us a lot of games. It’s kind of hard to replace those guys.
“Obviously it’s a lot harder winning games but we’ll be fine once we get used to our new roles.
“I think this year we’re still doing well without them. Other young guys have to fill their roles and I think we’ll be fine.”
Kitchener forward Cedric Schiemenz was a healthy scratch Thursday while defenceman Kyle Gentles remains out with an upper body injury.
Meanwhile, London was without goalie Tyler Parsons (injury), forward Owen MacDonald (suspension), defenceman Chris Martenet (upper body injury), centre Josh Nelson (healthy scratch), Marner (Leafs) and Tkachuk (Flames).
The Rangers (6-3-0-1) return to the ice Friday when they host the Hamilton Bulldogs (7-2) at the Aud at 7:30 p.m.
It’s kind of hard to replace those guys. KNIGHTS PLAYER CLIFF PU