The Kitchener Jr Rangers MD Red team took game 2 of the miniseries against the Brantford 99ers on the road with a 5 to 3-win Tuesday night at the Gretzky Center.
After a pretty intense and rough first game, the second game was much more controlled and calmer by both teams. The Rangers tried out a new penalty kill which caused some confusion and allowed a couple goals they might not have typically had against, but it was a good opportunity to test the system. Credit to the Rangers team for showing discipline and focus early in this one, after a few calls were missed. Although not ideal, the team pulled together and stepped up to kill off a few penalties of their own late in the second period.
Josh McDonald stepped up for the Rangers with a pair of goals and an assist. McDonalds first goal was set up by Logan Duke and Denver Heiman and his second from Evan Peori and Jacob Reid-Brant. Quinten Earle scored from Duke and Heiman. Kodi Blackshaw absolutely destroyed a puck top shelf from Jake Fisher and Connor Coughlin and on the power play Reid-Brant scored from Caleb Cumming and McDonald. Reid Brant's goal notched him his 100th point on the season.
The penalty kill test left Aiden Radatus out to dry on a couple goals against where players had missed assignments but nonetheless Radatus was sharp for the Rangers and made a huge save in close in the first period. Radatus moved well side to side and was focused all game despite some running around in the Rangers end.
Defensively, 5 on 5, the Rangers leaned hard on the pairing of Noah Park with Chad Morris while Matt Gallant and Toby Pryce were stand outs as well. Stephen Peppas was a massive help down low breaking the puck out as per usual and made some crafty zone entries that caused some fits for the Brantford defenders.
Next the Rangers will play the 99ers for the third straight time and close out the miniseries on Saturday night back in Brantford. The Rangers sit in the top spot in the playoffs with 9 straight wins and 18 points.
Go Rangers!