Rangers drop Game 1 in Windsor

There was no quit for the Kitchener Rangers.

The Windsor Spitfires scored three in the second, three in the third, and bumped the Blueshirts 6-5.

After the Spits three goals to start the third period, the Rangers didn't roll over and call it a day.

Some might not have blamed them, coming off an emotional first-round series win against the London Knights, but head coach Mike McKenzie wasn't using that as any excuse.

“We've moved on at this point. Our guys were skating hard and competing,” said McKenzie. There were too many mental errors. I didn't think it was too much of an issue for us, turning the page. We're into this series now.”

Down 6-4 late in the third, the Rangers converted with Paval Cajan on the bench. It was Mike Petizian that pulled the Rangers within one.

They couldn't muster the sixth goal to pull even.

“We can't give them looks off our own mistakes and just add to the chances they're already going to get,” said McKenzie. “They're a high-powered offensive team, that's their calling card, so we have to be ready to go.” 

Joseph Serpa was a beast for the Rangers, earning four points in the loss.

“I think we outplayed them,” said the Cambridge native. “Ya, we lost that game, but I think there's a lot of positives we can take out of that. Obviously they played well, but we shot ourselves in the foot a couple times.”

Mitchell Martin had two goals himself, and added an assist.

Game 2 goes Sunday evening in Windsor.

Pregame at 6:30 p.m. on City News 570 with Mike Farwell and Chris Pope.