Rangers rally
Kitchener snags an overtime win against the Guelph Storm
GUELPH — They call him Joey G.
But Kitchener Rangers forward/defenceman Joseph Garreffa might have a new nickname in the pipeline.
“Joe is Johnny OT for us right now,” said Blueshirts bench boss Jay McKee.
The pint-sized player capped a dramatic 5-4 come from behind victory in overtime against the Guelph Storm Sunday afternoon at the Sleeman Centre to get the Rangers back on the winning track.
It was the second time in the past 10 days that Garreffa converted in extra time.
“He just has that ability to beat guys with either moves or his speed,” said McKee, whose team split the weekend after losing 3-2 to Oshawa Friday at home. “He’s real smart.”
The Rangers had no business reaching overtime.
Guelph was up 4-2 with fewer than two minutes to go when the visitors pulled goalie Luke Richardson for an extra attacker.
Mascherin’s team-high 38th of the season cut the lead to one before captain Connor Bunnaman beat Guelph goalie Anthony Popovich to tie things up 23 seconds later.
Winger Nick McHugh started the winning play by chipping the puck ahead to Mascherin who delivered a perfect pass to Garreffa on a two-on-one break.
“I saw Mascherin and he’s a double threat,” said Garreffa. “He has a cannon and most teams think he’s going to shoot. It was a great pass and it was an empty net for me. It feels great to get it. It’s a big win for us.”
Kitchener had trouble sustaining momentum in regulation.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for the referees in this league, but I think we were battling Guelph and the refereeing a little bit,” said McKee.
The skipper took issue with a first period major for checking to the head dished out to winger Jonathan Yantsis, who was subsequently tossed from the game.
“From what we saw we thought it was a hit to the chest,” said McKee. “The kid’s (Zach Poirier)
head snapped back but that’s what happens when you get hit hard.”
An elbowing call to towering Rangers defenceman Logan Stanley on a player already falling toward the ice and a clearing attempt on the penalty kill by McHugh — ruled as closing the hand on the puck — also raised an eyebrow.
Kitchener battled through it all and had a 2-1 lead through two on
goals by Mascherin and Stanley before the home side fired three past Richardson in the final frame to — seemingly — lock up the win.
But that wild finish spoiled the party.
“It’s a good feeling to come back like that and the guys not just folding and rolling over,” said McKee. “This is something that you can reflect on later on when you’re down by a couple.”
Forward Logan Brown and blueliner Connor Hall got the day off to rest while centre Riley Damiani missed his second straight game due to an illness.
The Rangers improved to 41-192-0 and will look to lock up the Midwest Division this week, possibly Tuesday when they host Sarnia at the Aud at 7 p.m.