Rangers shut out by goalie, ref
Kitchener falls behind 2-0 in semifinal series with London after controversial goal-line call
LONDON — The Kitchener Rangers feel robbed.
The club looked like it broke a scoreless tie with the London Knights late in the second period of Sunday’s Game 2 of the OHL western conference semifinal at Bud Gardens.
Sniper Matt Puempel fired a shot to the left of Knights netminder Anthony Stolarz, who appeared to make the save. A closer look revealed that his mitt may have been over the goal-line.
Either way, play continued. London went on to blank the Rangers 2-0 and now holds a commanding two games to none lead in the best-of-seven series.
“It’s definitely an error by the officials on the ice,” said Kitchener general manager and head coach Steve Spott, who hopes to get an explanation from the OHL over how the play was handled.
“When you have a situation like that you have to go upstairs (for a review).”
The skipper was told that officials looked at the play at intermission and ruled it no goal. But by then it was too late, at least to Spott.
“These games are just too critical,” he said. “You have to have the best officials on the ice and they have to understand that any time something is close, just to eliminate any risk, just go upstairs. There is no hurry.
“Why they didn’t go upstairs I don’t know? It’s frustrating because that could have been a huge turning point.” Puempel knew it was close. “I know I got a hold of it pretty good,” he said. “It was in his glove so it was probably inconclusive.”
Stolarz — who stopped 34 shots for his first career post-season shutout — said the puck hit his cuff and did not go in.
The point is moot now as Kitchener heads home for Game 3 in desperate need of a win to get back into the series.
It has been a frustrating start to the semi for the Rangers, who feel they have played five solid periods out of six, but have nothing to show for it.
“I thought we deserved a better fate,” said Spott. “We had more than enough opportunities to put this game away and we simply didn’t.”
Kitchener went 0-for-7 on the power play and has failed all 10 times in the series with the man advantage.
London didn’t get to Rangers goalie John Gibson until late in the third period when Max Domi won a one-on-one battle with Josh Sterk and converted from the slot.
Winger Bo Horvat broke in and potted his fourth of the playoffs between Gibson’s pads, with about a minute and a half to go to cement the win.
The Knights played without defenceman Nikita Zadorov, who is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
“It’s one game we have to put behind us and move forward in our barn,” said Puempel. “We’re going to regroup and get ourselves ready for a good battle.”
Game 3 kicks off at 7 p.m. tonight.