Reece Doumani / OHL in 60 Podcast
@reecedoumani / @ohlin60podcast
The Kitchener Rangers had found a way to get even with the Windsor Spitfires in their best of seven, semi-final series and were looking to win their fourth in a row on Tuesday at the WFCU Centre.
Rangers would get on the board first at the 12:20 mark of the first period. Luke Ellinas and Tanner Lam would streak into the Windsor zone on a 2-on-1 and Ellinas would bury his 5th of the postseason to break the ice. That would be the only tally in the opening frame as the Rangers would take the lead into the intermission, despite being outshot by the Spitfires 9-8.
In the second, the Spitfires would get even in the game, bringing the crowd to its feet as Carter Hicks finished off a beautiful passing play started by Abraham, who went to Nesbitt, who found Hicks, who tucked it past Parsons at the 11:20 mark of the period. That would be the only goal of the 2nd period and the Spitfires outshot the Rangers 20-16 through 40 minutes.
To the third, and this game had the feeling that whoever scored the next goal, was going to head to London for the Western Conference final. Teams would trade opportunities in the final frame but neither club was able to find the back of the net. The Spitfires and Rangers played through a scoreless third, meaning this game would be decided in overtime. Windsor outshot Kitchener 32-23 through regulation.
Overtime would start with a great pace and the Rangers would be inches away from ending the game, but the puck clanked off the post as it hit a couple of bodies on the way through to the Windsor net. Teams would hit the TV timeout still tied at 1. Then, with 5:22 to go, the Kitchener Rangers would complete the climb to the top of the mountain.
Tanner Lam would take the shot, it would hit a defender and roll towards the right side of the net where Luke Ellinas would chip it up and over the pad of Joey Costanzo to give the Rangers a 2-1 win in overtime, in Game 7 and send them to London for the Western Conference Finals.
Jackson Parsons stops 39 of 40 shots for the victory while Joey Costanzo made 30 saves on 32 shots.
The Rangers begin their Western Conference Finals series against the Knights on Friday at Canada Life Place.
