Feb 16, 2020 | Dave Horne | 452 views
Rangers Prevail in Gritty Affair
The Kitchener Jr Rangers MD Red team posted back to back shutout victories beating the Burlington Bulldogs 2 to 0 in a heated and aggressive game Saturday night on home ice.
Connor Coughlin opened the after he made a great play controlling a hard pass from Toby Pryce as he spun and fired a hard shot past the Bulldogs goalie. Jake Fisher made a great play along the boards earning the secondary assist to Pryce. Evan Peori put the finishing touches on a nice play from Stephen Peppas and Jacob Reid-Brant with both the plays earning assists on the Peori goal. The Peori-Peppas-Reid Brant line was buzzing all night and had a for sure goal called off moments earlier after the Burlington goaltender pushed his net off.
Aiden Radatus posted his 8th shutout of the season and played another solid game between the pipes. Radatus was forced to make some solid stops as the Bulldogs had some powerplay time and did a good job limiting second chances all game. Radatus continues to show bite and battle in his crease, something the coaching staff loves to see.
Most of the game both teams appeared to be getting away with a lot of physical play and you could sense it was only
a matter of time before things boiled out of control. And sure enough, with no calls, things got out of hand and the
refs struggle to regain control. Credit to the Rangers for checking their emotions late in the game and skating away
with the two points.
Denver Heiman worked hard on the forecheck and did a great job winning battles and trying to get the puck to Logan
Duke to create offense. Quinten Earle was a force down low in the Rangers end and made the defenders lives easier.
The ever-working Caleb Cumming was a force all game as well with his solid backchecking abilities and speed off
zone entries.
As always, a shutout is the result of a solid defensive game and Noah Park and Chad Morris were effective all game.
Matt Gallant made effective passes up ice and Josh McDonald was dangerous jumping into the play. Kodi Blackshaw
and Pryce were a great mix of skill and toughness as well.
The win was the third straight in the playoffs for the Rangers against the Bulldogs and the Rangers will only need one
more win to take the series 4 and 0. Next up the Rangers look to extend their lead against their rival Blue team to
three games Wednesday.
Go Rangers!