Rangers take home-ice from Knights

By CityNews Staff

Call it the amuse-bouche.

If Game 1 is an indication of the rest of the first-round seven-game series between the London Knights and Kitchener Rangers, you may want to purchase a defibrillator. 

“It had a little bit of everything, and that's what you want in a playoff game,” said Kitchener head coach Mike McKenzie. 

His team scored first when Mitch Martin beat Brett Brochu, who made his return to the Knights goal after missing almost a month and a half and undergoing lower-body surgery. 

Captain Francesco Pinelli potted a pair of his own and Kitchener clipped the Knights 3-2. 

“We need him to be our leader,” said McKenzie. “He's our captain for a reason. Huge performance for him. We need him to be good.”

Clearly that message was relayed to Captain “Che.” 

“Coming into the playoffs, I have to lead this team,” said Pinelli, who signed with the LA Kings earlier this month. “We're going to be successful if everyone chips in. When we're going, we're a really good team.” 

Mike Petizian had two assists, who along with Pinelli and a handful of others shut down the Knights best player – Luke Evangelista. 

Paval Cajan out-duelled Brochu, making 34 saves in his first OHL playoff game. 

Joseph Serpa had a third-period goal called back, after officials deemed the puck hit Serpa's shrugging shoulders, sending the biscuit behind Brochu. 

Antonio Stranges buried both Knights goals; one of which came on a penalty-shot. 

“Bit of a suspect call. It's a little bit of a … cheesy one … maybe. But that's the way it goes,” added McKenzie. “It's something we talked about before the series; No matter what. we can't get rattled. Our guys did a good job of staying even-keeled.”

“Our season has been bumpy, with a lot of adversity,” Pinelli pointed out post game. “Good teams show up now. I think our team is going to show up here. We had a great game, so we're going to build off it.”

They'll have a chance Friday in London. Pregame at 6:30 p.m. on City News 570 with Mike Farwell and Mike Torchia, filling in for Chris Pope.  

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