Overtime Heroics lead Rangers past Spitfires in Game 1
Posted Apr 25, 2026 06:44:47 AM.
Last Updated Apr 25, 2026 01:18:50 PM.
The Rangers refuse to be swept in the conference finals this year.
The red-hot Kitchener Rangers faced a tough task against the Windsor Spitfires in Western Conference Finals game 1.
The Spits came into Friday night with a 15-1-1 record in their last 17 games, still undefeated in the OHL playoffs.
That momentum kept rolling early, as just 47 seconds into the contest, Windsor’s Cristoforo beats Rangers’ goalie Christian Kirsch on the first shot of the game.
The Blueshirts would answer back with a pair later in the period to wrest back control, thanks to the duo of Bilecki and Edwards.
Despite shooting very little, Windsor would even things up on their fourth shot late in the period, as former Sudbury Wolves captain Nathan Villeneuve tied the game off a rebound.
Both offenses slowed down into the second, before Windsor’s Jack Nesbitt would beat Christian Kirsch again with a wrist shot from the slot.
After a shaky start, Kirsch would find his form the rest of the way. A late second period power-play goal from Jack Pridham would tie the game once again heading into to the third.
The final frame of regulation became a goaltender duel, as Windsor’s Joey Costanzo and Kitchener’s Kirsch stopped all 11 combined shots they faced, setting up overtime.
After Kitchener dominated the extra frame, peppering Costanzo with quality chances, Windsor gave into the pressure and committed a costly high-sticking penalty late in the first overtime.
Just seven seconds into the man advantage, Kitchener’s Sam O’Reilly would be the hero, as he deposited a rebound on the doorstep for his 11th goal of the playoffs to give the Blueshirts the massive game 1 victory.
After their heartbreaking 4-0 series loss to the London Knights in the same round in 2025, the victory means the Rangers can at least guarantee two more games on home ice the rest of the way.
With a night off to rest on Saturday, all eyes now turn to Sunday, where the Rangers will look to repeat their success at the Aud for game 2, with the contest starting at 6:00 p.m.
