Rangers collapse with chance at fifth against Flint
Posted Mar 25, 2023 11:15:00 AM.
This one is going to hurt.
The Kitchener Rangers came into Friday's game, against the Flint Firebirds, with a chance at fifth place in the Ontario Hockey League's Western Conference.
All signs were pointing in the right direction.
Marco Costantini was standing on his head, playing one of his best games in a Rangers jersey.
It was one of the largest crowds of the year, with over 7000 screaming fans hanging on every goal, trying to will their team to a higher playoff spot.
Up 2-1 after 40 minutes, the Rangers popped three in the third to lead the Flint Firebirds 5-2 with just five minutes left in the game.
Cue the comeback. Or, the collapse.
The 'Birds scored three goals in just 2:36, including two tallies in the final minute, to force overtime.
In period four, Flint forward Amadeus Lombardi beat a Ranger wide, and fed Riley Piercey a tap-in for the winner.
Flint shocked the Rangers 6-5, in overtime.
“That’s junior hockey,” said general manager Mike McKenzie. “It’s unfortunate it happened to us in an important game.”
Lombardi was an absolute machine. He came into the match-up sitting on 97 points, a tie for the franchise all-time single-season record.
After five points, the Detroit Red Wings prospect is third in league scoring, with 102 points.
Despite the one-man wrecking crew in Lombardi, Kitchener was still left wondering what happened?
“Lots of things have to happen, for that to happen. It’s not just one thing,” said McKenzie. “It stings and it hurts, but we’ll bounce back from it. It’s one game.”
“It’s a good test for our guys to see how resilient we are.”
The loss moves the Rangers down to seventh place, one point back of the Guelph Storm for sixth place.
Guelph is in Saginaw tonight. Kitchener will play the London Knights Sunday evening, in what could be a first round match-up, again.
Sunday's game starts at 6:00 p.m. with the pregame starting at 5:30 p.m. with Mike Farwell and Chris Pope.
