Ted Hunt scored his first goal of the season and Adam Giacomin had his first multi-point outing as a Ranger, but it was not enough to hold off the Blades as Oakville downed North York 4-3 in overtime on Friday night.
Jake Harris gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead on a beautiful individual rush 57 seconds into the third period, but then four straight penalties, including two 5-on-3 opportunities for Oakville, derailed what appeared to be a hard-fought road victory.
Hunt opened the scoring at the 5:27 mark of the first period when his wicked wrist shot beat Blades’ goaltender Brendan McGlynn over the shoulder.
After Oakville tied it by way of Drew Worrad on the power play at 13:03, Adam Giacomin gave North York the lead again by whipping a point shot in off a Blades’ stick at the 10:56 mark of the middle frame.
Harris made it 3-1, and then the penalties started to pour in.
Louis Kereakou, the bench, Jeremy Szabo and Hunt all took penalties just over four minutes apart, leading to goals from Ryan Garvey, and another from Worrad.
Worrad completed the hat trick at 2:54 of the first overtime period when his screened wrist shot evaded North York goaltender Gianluca Baggetta through the five-hole.
The three-point game resulted in Oakville tying North York for second place in the Ontario Junior Hockey League South Division with 10 points. The Blades, however, have played two more games than the Rangers.
North York is back in action on Sunday afternoon when it takes on the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, puck drops at the Herb Carnegie Centennial Arena at 3 p.m.