By Jamie Neugebauer
Corey Helliwell scored his first of the post-season and hit the crossbar on another chance, but it was not enough as the North York Rangers fell 4-2 to the Toronto Patriots in Game 1 of the second round Wednesday.
Corey Kalk opened the scoring for North York at 3:50 of the first period when his spinning snapshot evaded Evan Buitenhuis.
Andreas Tsogkas got his first of the night to tie it up at 18:23 when his wrister from the right wing trickled through Rangers goaltender Jason Pucciarelli.
Helliwell gave North York the lead again 2:53 into the middle frame with a screened shot from the slot, but Kevin Shier tied the game up at 11:38 by beautiful converting a breakaway on the backhand.
Shier then put the Patriots ahead for the first time in the game at 17:06 on the power play with a one-timed blast on a pass from Mike Prapavessis.
Tsogkas converted a 2-on-1 with Rory Bell to put the game out of reach with just over three minutes left in the game.
The Rangers outshot the Patriots 27-21 on the contest.
Game 2 goes Friday night at the Herb Carnegie Centennial Arena, puck drops at 7 p.m.
