Rangers get by Cougars

NORTH YORK, ON - NOVEMBER 25: Tyler Flack #17 of the North York Rangers turns to skate up ice on November 25, 2018 at Herbert Carnegie Centennial Arena in North York, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Ray MacAloney / OJHL Images)
December 16, 2018

8:25 PM EST

The North York Rangers defeated the West Division leading Cobourg Cougars 3-2 on Sunday (Dec. 16) afternoon at the Hebert H. Carnegie Centre in the team’s final home game of 2018.

The visitors struck first early in the opening frame. Brock Welsh came storming down the middle and he shot deflected off the stick of Joey Maziarz to beat goalie Jett Alexander. Welsh extended his point streak to 15 games with the marker.

The Rangers (25-6-1-3) responded late in the period. Harrison Rees point shot slid by Cougars’ goalie Dershahn Stewart to even up the score at 17:05. The goal marked the end Stewart’s impressive shutout streak of 241 minutes and 21 seconds. Shortly after Nick Leshuk found a wide open Connor Rudderham in the slot and he made no mistake going top corner. North York registered two goals in 91 seconds in order to take a 2-1 lead into the second.

After Cobourg’s (20-7-0-4) powerplay expired, Welsh tied up Mac Lowry but once again the puck deflected off a Rangers’ stick this time Dante Fantauzzi to even up the score at 14:39.

The Rangers retook the lead thanks to Tyler Flack’s 16th goal of the season at 12:47. Daniil Kuzmin picked up an assist on the play to extend his point streak to three (2 goals, 3 assists) games.

Alexander made 33 saves to pick up his league-high 22 victory of the season.

North York is back in action on Wednesday (Dec. 19) night against the Toronto Patriots (17-16-0-1) on the road. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Westwood Arena.