It looked like Friday's win over the top team in the Ontario Hockey League was going to be a turning point.
It was not. The Sarnia Sting scored just 37 seconds into the game and clapped Kitchener 4-2, with an empty-net goal.
It could have been a blowout, with the refs giving Sarnia eight power-plays. The Rangers killed off seven of them.
“I don't think they called a good game,” said head coach Chris Dennis. “I thought our penalties were deserved. But, if you're going to call the game that tight, there were ones missed out on. I would have liked a couple more to go our way, but our penalties were penalties.”
Sarnia held a 3-0 lead in the third period, before the Rangers scored two short handed goals; one from Reid Valade, and the other from Francesco Pinelli. Both came on the same penalty-kill.
“We blocked shots. We competed, and you can't say enough good things about Vandy [Marcus Vandenberg] tonight,” said Dennis, of his goaltender who made 31 saves.
Kitchener was only on the power-play twice. Once in the second, and once in the third.
I think we're putting too much pressure on ourselves right now, to try to fix everything at once. The guys want it. They want it so bad, and they're forcing things,” said Dennis.
“I told them after, this is a good team [Sarnia]. Our best game may not have been good enough today, because they have a really good team too. We just have to breathe a little bit and play the right way.”
They travel to London, looking for redemption, Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
