Ottawa Senators 2006 Draft pick Kaspars Daugavins scored a shorthanded goal with only 17 seconds remaining in overtime as the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors edged the Kitchener Rangers last night. In a mutual decision, Daugavins was assigned to Mississauga by the Binghamton Senators on December 23. Kaspars scored 40 goals for Mississauga in 2007-08 and has now rejoined the team for their playoff run. With a two-point night on Tuesday, the Riga, Latvia native has 8 points (2 G, 6 A) in his last 6 games.
Majors blow lead, come back to win
By: Gary McCarthy
The Majors extended their current Ontario Hockey League winning streak to three games last night but they needed an overtime goal by Kaspars Daugavins to defeat the Kitchener Rangers 5-4 after blowing a two-goal lead in the last minute of the third period.
With the win, the Majors improved their record to 29-22-1-2 and solidified their hold on fourth place in the OHL's Eastern Conference standings.
The Majors appeared to be in a comfortable position, owning a 4-2 lead with less than 30 seconds to play in the final period.
But the drama unfolded in those dying seconds as the Rangers sent a hometown crowd of 5,839 at the Memorial Auditorium into a frenzy with two goals just eight seconds apart to tie the game and force overtime.
The drama didn’t end there.
It became even more tense when Mississauga’s Tim Billingsley took a tripping penalty in the first minute of overtime. The Majors killed it off and then scored the game winner when Daugavins beat Kitchener goalie Parker Van Buskirk with a wrist shot from the slot on a Mississauga power play with just 17 seconds left in the extra session.
It marked the first time that a Mississauga-based team has swept a season series against the Rangers in 11 years. The Majors beat the Rangers 7-5 earlier this season at the Hershey Centre.
Kale Kerbashian, Jordan Mayer, Casey Cizikas and Devante Smith-Pelly provided the Mississauga offence in regulation time, putting the Majors ahead 4-1 after two periods.
In fact, Cizikas’ goal late in the second chased Van Buskirk, who allowed the four goals on just 12 shots. Mike Morrison replaced Van Buskirk in the Kitchener net for the rest of the second period and then Van Buskirk returned to play the third.
The Rangers outshot the Majors 40-22 on the night. They had 14 shots in the third period at Mississauga goalie Chris Carrozzi, scoring three times.
Cizikas and Daugavins each had an assist to go with their goals and defenceman
In fact, Cizikas’ goal late in the second chased Van Buskirk, who allowed the four goals on just 12 shots. Mike Morrison replaced Van Buskirk in the Kitchener net for the rest of the second period and then Van Buskirk returned to play the third.
The Rangers outshot the Majors 40-22 on the night. They had 14 shots in the third period at Mississauga goalie Chris Carrozzi, scoring three times.
Cizikas and Daugavins each had an assist to go with their goals and defenceman
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