The comeback fell short for the Kitchener Rangers Wednesday evening as they opened a round trip in Sault Ste. Marie.
Down 4-2 to the Greyhounds heading into the third period, the Rangers would even things up before Greyhounds captain Bryce McConnell-Barker potted the winner in the final minute of the third. Sault Ste. Marie would hold on for a 5-4 victory.
Simon Motew had a strong night for the Rangers. The defenceman had one goal and two assists.
Danny Zhilkin, who was picked up in a trade with Guelph earlier this week, also scored his first as a Ranger, giving him 13 goals on the season.
Kitchener head coach Chris Dennis said he felt his team may have taken the Greyhounds lightly early on after routing them in December in Kitchener.
“Give them credit, they came out and played hard,” Dennis said. “I definitely think we had better. I didn’t like our first two periods, but give them credit, they played like a team that had some pride on the line and wanted to win a game.”
The Rangers pasted the Greyhounds 9-0 in that December 16 match up at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.
Kitchener will look to halt a four game losing streak in Saginaw on Friday. You can listen to all the action on CityNews 570, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
-- with files from Brad Coccimiglio / SooToday
