NotesA big game for the Hawks if they were to stay close for a spot in the next round. The Hawks opened up the first shift of the game with a rush by Tim Gushue down the boards and firing a shot on goal that got by the Kitchener goaltender but not the goal line, Blake Davidson just missed on the rebound as it got too tight to his body to convert. The flow was going in the Hawks direction until a controversial call ended up in a Kitchener penalty shot which was converted, 1-0 the Visitors. The Hawks didn't let that keep them down as Brock Fraser tied the score at 1 with a lazer from the point hitting the crossbar and going over the line.
The second period was back and forth again as the visitors went up by 2 at 6:01, 3-1 Kitchener. Brock Fraser came to the rescue again taking a puck in the Neutral zone from Jack Nieson and firing a hard shot on net that eluded the Kitchener netminder, the defenceman's second of the game, 3-2 Rangers. The first 5 minutes of the 3rd was tough on the homeside as they sat back and it cost them as Kitchener put 2 by them quickly. The never say die Hawks (like they have all year), would not give up as Riley Jenkins made it 5-3, 10 seconds after Kitchener scored there 5th goal. Jenkins goal was on a brilliant feed from Owen Rivard. Almost exactly a minute after that Jack Nieson skated through the Kitchener zone and fired a bullet under the Kitchener goalie, assists from dmen Noah Guerin, and Brock Fraser his 3rd point of the game. With just over 9 minutes remaining it was a nail biter as the Hawks continued to press but came up 1 goal shy. An exciting game with monster efforts from Fraser on D, Brandon Tasker, Jack Leslie, and Owen Rivard. A great shot blocking game by the D, including Matti Rajamaki, Ryan Jamieson and Liam Cain. Offensively our most pressure in a game all year from Rivard, Davidson, MacDonald, Tasker, Leslie, Jenkins, Gushue, Nieson, and Rylan Jonas who made the transition from D to Center, a tough task. Cameron Martin faced heavy traffic in net throughout!!
Up next Hamilton next Sunday at home!!