Richardson blanks hometown Colts
Posted Jan 3, 2018 04:20:03 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
For the first time in his Ontario Hockey League career, Luke Richardson was perfect.
He stopped all 43 shots, earning his first career shutout Tuesday night, and the Kitchener Rangers blanked his hometown Barrie Colts 3-0.
“It wasn’t one of those nights where everything was perimeter,” said Rangers head coach Jay McKee. “He definitely earned it. He came up with some big saves in tight.”
“Right from the start,” said Richardson, about when he started to feel in the zone. “It felt good; especially since I’ve come close a few times and had it end kind of late. It’s nice to get it tonight.”
His blanking of his hometown team caps the first five-game winning streak for the Rangers this season.
Richardon’s shutout happened to fall on the day his cousin Justin – or, more commonly known as “Bud” – was getting married, in Mexico, with much of the large Richardson family in attendance.
“It could be,” said the 18-year-old when asked if this was Bud’s wedding gift. “I wish I could be there (…) it’s always good to get your first shutout.”
It’s not only Richardson’s, it’s the first Rangers team shutout since October 28, 2016, Chris McGonigle blanked the Peterborough Petes. It was his final game before hip surgery.
Richardson’s 43 saves match Michael DiPietro for the most saves in a shutout this season, blanking a Barrie team bolstering the OHL’s leading scorer, Aaron Luchuck.
“A game like that, I just say, ‘I can play with any team in the league’,” said Richardson.
“It tells him he can do it,” said McKee of his starter, who now has a .940 save percentage over the five-game winning streak. “You’d like to see him build on those; seeing the puck and making those saves and building everyone’s confidence around him.”
It took Riley Damiani just 20 seconds to open the scoring in the second period on the power play. It proved to be the game-winner in his 100th game as a Kitchener Ranger.
Over the last four games, Kitchener’s power play has converted over 45 per cent of its chances, and its penalty kill has shut down 100 per cent of the opposition’s opportunity.
Great news for Rangers’ fans, bad news for McKee.
“I told the guys after the Christmas break, ‘If in the next four games our power play is 30-per cent or better, I’d personally take all the guys out to The Keg for dinner’,” said McKee.
They’re at 45 per cent.
“My PK guys got mad about that,” continued McKee. “I said, “If you guys go the next four games at 90-per cent or better, I’ll take all you guys out to dinner.’ So, looks like I’m taking about 17 guys out for dinner on me pretty soon.”
After earning eight points in those four games, McKee added: “It’s worth it.”
The Rangers are back at home on Friday, when they host the Mississauga Steelheads.
