Depleted Otters outwork Rangers
Erie evens up series with Kitchener in Western Conference quarters despite missing key players
Must-win game might be a bit much.
After all, Easter Sunday’s matinee between the Kitchener Rangers and Erie Otters was only Game 2 in the Ontario Hockey League’s Western Conference best-of-seven quarterfinal series.
But consider the circumstances. Kitchener had a 1-0 series lead after doubling Erie, 6-3, this past Friday.
And the Otters were beat up.
A flu bug that is ripping through the team — coupled with some key injuries — meant the visitors were without two offensive-minded forwards in Martin Misiak and Brett Bressette, tough winger Alex Messier, the club’s highest-scoring defenceman Alexis Daviault and starting goalie Ben Gaudreau on Sunday.
That’s quite a haul.
So, the last thing the Rangers wanted to do was give the Otters momentum with the series shifting to Pennsylvania later this week. But these Otters are resilient. They hustled and outworked the Rangers and were rewarded with a 7-4 win much to the pleasure of their small — but very vocal — fan base taking in the game on East Avenue.
Now, Erie heads home on even footing, tied 1-1 in the series.
“I’m pretty proud of the group,” said Otters head coach Stan Butler. “We had a lot of guys out. They just keep playing hard for each other and, when you do that in this game, you always have a chance to win.”
Kitchener wasted no time building a lead. Seattle Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf converted a lovely tick-tack-toe passing play with teammates Eduard Sale and Filip Mesar on the power play just 1:44 into the affair.
The goal was reviewed for goaltender interference, since veteran Matthew Sop was in the Otters’ crease, but it stood up.
Rookie Matheas Stark buried his first of the post-season just 43 seconds later for a 2-0 advantage and the Rangers seemed to be off to the races.
But Erie responded with three consecutive goals, from Pano Fimis, Malcolm Spence and Sam Alfano, before Rehkopf potted his second of the tilt to tie things up before the second-period intermission.
The Otters outscored the Rangers 4-1 in the final frame, with the game-winner coming from Alfano, who had three points in the contest.
“I told the guys it’s an opportunity and you have to take advantage,” said Butler.
“Some kids got more ice time than they’ve ever gotten. We had to at least win one game here. But this series is a long way away from being over.”
Kitchener bench boss Jussi Ahokas wasn’t happy with the team’s puck management.
“That was the biggest issue,” he said. “Our offence wasn’t driving hard to the net. We scored four goals. In playoffs you should win when you score four. We have to be smarter with the puck and defend better.”
Rangers’ top-line winger Trent Swick missed his third game while serving a suspension for fighting during the regular season.
He can return for Game 4, which runs Thursday at the Erie Insurance Arena.
Erie rookie defenceman Keagan Knight made his OHL debut Sunday after spending the season with Pelham in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Game 3 of the Rangers-Otters series goes Tuesday at the EIA starting at 7 p.m.
“We haven’t been in the playoffs in a while so they’re probably excited,” said Butler, whose club last appeared in the post-season in 2017. “But we have to stay focused and do what we need to do to be successful. We know the Rangers are really talented and they’re going to be ready to play.”