FeedsPlymouth Whalers lead Rangers, 2-0
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Plymouth Evan Brophey watches his shot trickle through Kitchener goalie John Murray’s legs to win game one of the OHL Western conference semifinals, 6-5, in overtime on Friday night at the Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth. Photo by Walt Dmoch.The red-hot Plymouth Whalers are at it again.
Fresh off a four-game sweep of the Guelph Storm, they’re making the playoffs look easy as they lead the Kitchener Rangers, 2-0, in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Western Conference Semifinals.
Plymouth won the second game against the Rangers, 3-2, on Sunday night in Kitchener, NY.
The Whalers charged out of the gates and scored two first period goals. The first came off the team’s first shot of the game. Chris Terry was credited with the goal when he deflected a pass from teammate Ryan McGinnis at center ice. The puck bounced off Kitchener goalie John Murray and into the net at the 4:58 mark of the frame.
James Neal made it a 2-0 game at 10:05 when he scored in the Kitchener slot on a power play. Evan Brophey fed him the puck for the assist. The goal marked Neal’s fifth of the playoffs.
Daniel Ryder scored the eventual game winner when he beat Murray with a quick one-timer set up by Zack Shepley at 9:38 of the second session.
Kitchener found a weak link somewhere in Plymouth’s league leading penalty-killing team. The Rangers scored two power-play goals to narrow the gap. Justin Azevedo scored the first at 10:57 of the second with a hard shot from the right wing. Then Victor Oreskovich scored on a deflection from the left hash mark at 5:39 in the third.
The Rangers failed to find the equalizer in the final 50 seconds when they had a two-man advantage the rest of the way.
Michal Neuvirth stopped 45 Ranger shots.
The Whalers had another close one at home on Friday night.
The contest came down to the wire when Brophey scored a shorthanded goal at 6:25 of overtime to give the Whalers a 6-5 victory.
Brophey took a pass from Wes Cunningham and let loose a slow shot from the left face-off circle that beat Murray through the five-hole. Neal scored twice and Terry, Tom Sestito and Daniel Ryder all added single tallies.
Kitchener peppered Plymouth’s goal with 55 shots. Neuvirth was up to the task, stopping 50 of them and earning his third win in the playoffs with out a loss.
Steve Downie and Yannick Weber scored twice for the Rangers. Oreskovich scored the other.
Plymouth racked up a 4-2 advantage going into the third period, but Weber scored two power-play goals and Downie added one to take the lead, 5-4, with about 7:30 left to play. Neal knocked in a loose puck on a power play to knot the game at five at the 13:42 mark.
