Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
The Soo Greyhounds saw their playoff run come to an end Friday night in Kitchener, falling 5–1 to the Kitchener Rangers in game five of their Western Conference second-round series.
Coming off a hard-fought 4–2 victory on home ice in Sault Ste. Marie just one night earlier on Thursday, April 16, the Greyhounds had cut the series deficit to 3–1 and forced a quick turnaround. Both teams traveled overnight to Kitchener for the Friday, April 17 matchup, but it was the Rangers who capitalized on home ice to close out the series.
The Greyhounds struck first early in the opening period, taking a 1–0 lead just 54 seconds into the game. Quinn McKenzie netted his fifth goal of the playoffs, finishing a play set up by Noah Laus and Harris Pangretitsch. The early momentum, however, was short-lived.
Kitchener responded at the 4:55 mark of the first period, as Cameron Arquette buried his second of the postseason off assists from Haeden Ellis and Cameron Reid, tying the game 1–1 heading into the intermission.
The Rangers took control in the second period, beginning with a go-ahead goal at 7:41. Jared Woolley broke in alone on a breakaway and made no mistake, scoring his first of the playoffs unassisted to give Kitchener a 2–1 lead. The home side extended their advantage later in the frame on the power play. At 13:38, Dylan Edwards found himself wide open to the left of Greyhounds netminder Carter George and buried his eighth of the postseason, with Alexander Bilecki picking up the assist.
Trailing 3–1 in the third period, the Greyhounds pushed to generate offense but were unable to solve the Rangers’ defense. Kitchener sealed the victory late, as Sam O’Reilly scored into the empty net at 17:05 for his ninth of the playoffs, assisted by Gabriel Chiarot and Jared Woolley. O’Reilly added his second goal of the night—and tenth of the postseason—at 19:39, scoring unassisted to cap off the 5–1 final.
With the win, the Rangers clinched the best-of-seven series 4–1 and advanced to the Western Conference Final. They will now face the Windsor Spitfires, who advanced after sweeping the Flint Firebirds in four straight games.
For the Greyhounds, the loss marks the end of their playoff journey after showing resilience by extending the series with a game four victory. Despite the quick turnaround and elimination, the team battled through a demanding schedule and a strong Rangers squad that ultimately proved too much in the series.
