Pinelli’s Two Not Enough in Ottawa Friday
October 7, 2022 – Ontario Hockey League (OHL) – Kitchener Rangers News Release
Ottawa, Ont. – Francesco Pinelli scored twice, Kitchener-native Matthew Sop recorded two assists and the Rangers outshot Ottawa 30-27 Friday but the 67’s held on for 5-3 victory at TD Place in Ottawa.
The only power-play of the first period was awarded to the 67’s at the 2:40 mark. Just six seconds into that man-advantage they opened the scoring. Jack Beck (Calgary Flames) drew a defender to the top of the left circle and slid a puck to the high slot for Brady Stonehouse to send a one-timer into the net that beat Jackson Parsons through the five-hole. After a great blocker save off a break-away from Parsons, Ottawa was able to double their lead at the 8:34 mark. A strong drive to the net by Tyler Boucher (Ottawa Senators) was stopped, but the rebound was placed just under the crossbar by Vinzenz Rohrer (Montreal Canadiens) scoring his first of the season. The period would end with Ottawa leading 2-0 and shots even at 10-10.
In an interview during the first intermission, Forward Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) noted that chemistry was building within the team, and he was not concerned by the Rangers slow start to the season. He guaranteed the Rangers would come out strong in the second period and they did just that.
The Rangers started the second period scoring two goals in 22 seconds. On their first man-advantage of the game, Kitchener scored 25 seconds into the power-play just 0:35 into the second period. Pinelli received a pass from Matthew Sop at the top of the left circle and sent a laser into the net over the shoulder, short side past Max Donoso. 22 seconds after that, a 2-on-1 by the Blueshirts was converted on on a cross-crease tap-in by Reid Valade at 0:47. Trent Swick made a strong drive to the net, setting up Valade who made no mistake.
Ottawa would restore their advantage at 7:43 on Brady Stonehouse’s second goal of the game. A pass worked down to the goal line from the point was fired across the goal by Tyler Boucher (Ottawa Senators) and steered home by Stonehouse between the left leg of Parsons and the right post. The period ended with a 3-2 Ottawa lead and shots favouring the Rangers 19-18.
The 67’s extended their lead back to 2 at the 4:52 mark of the final period. Their second power-play goal of the game was banked in off Parsons’ right leg from a tight angle by Brad Gardiner. Kitchener would respond by the way of their captain, Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings). A shot was thrown on net from Mitchell Martin, the rebound picked up by Carson Rehkopf who spun and made a skilled feed to Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) who fired the puck into the empty frame. Ottawa would restore their two-goal advantage for the third and final time of the game making it 5-3 at the 14:29 mark of the third period. The puck was flipped into air from blueline-to-blueline as Cooper Foster was able to get in behind the Rangers defence and fire a wrist shot past the glove of Parsons. The Rangers pulled their goalie for the second game in a row, but the final score favoured the 67’s 5-3.
The finals shots favoured the Rangers 30-27. Kitchener finished the game 1-for-6 on the power-play and 2-for-4 on the penalty-kill. Francesco Pinelli earned the third star of the game after recording two goals in the contest.
Next up:
Kitchener remains of the road for the third and final game of their three-game road swing. The Rangers will practice in Ottawa before travelling to Kingston Saturday. Puck drop is set for 2:00p.m. at Leon’s Centre against the Frontenacs. The game will be televised live in Kitchener and the Waterloo Region on Rogers TV, cable channel 20, and can be heard live on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL.
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