In a game where neither team could get a cushion, the North York Rangers escaped with a 5-4 victory over the Mississauga Chargers.
Neither team gained more than a one-goal lead, and Ryan Takamatsu‘s goal in the third period proved to be the difference maker.
North York got the win thanks to a great game by Matthew Whittaker, who had two goals and one assist. Whittaker scored the first of his two goals at 7:06 into the first period to make the score 1-1. Zachary Fung picked up the assist. Whittaker’s next tally made the score 3-2 North York with 17:11 left in the second period. Luke Kutkevicius provided the assist.
The Rangers forced Mississauga goalie Alex Lepore to work between the pipes, taking 43 shots.
Others who scored for North York included Max Novick and Nick Zanette, who each put in one. In addition, North York received assists from Kyle Cochrane, Gabriel Valenzuela, Anthony Paveglio, Michael Morgan, and Louis Kereakou, who each chipped in one.
The Chargers were led by Joseph Molinaro, who finished with two goals and two assists. Molinaro scored the first of his two goals at 4:19 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Mississauga. Zach Sternbach picked up the assist. Molinaro’s next tally made the score 3-3 with 13:54 left in the second period. Stefano Alonzi provided the assist. Mississauga additionally got points from Marco Mattina, who also registered one goal and two assists and Sternbach, who also had one goal and one assist.
Evgueni Makarski rejected 24 shots on goal for North York. The Rangers incurred four minutes in penalty time with two minors. Lepore recorded 38 saves for Mississauga. The Chargers incurred 12 minutes in penalty time with six minors.
