Whalers lose in Kitchener, 4-1

David Lomas scored two goals with an assist and rookie goaltender Mark Packwood stopped 29 shots as the Kitchener Rangers defeated the Plymouth Whalers, 4-1, Friday night before 6,010 at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.

Detroit Red Wings' prospect Evan McGrath and Justin Azevedo also scored for Kitchener.

Gino Pisellini scored his 11th goal of the season for Plymouth.

In spite of the loss, Plymouth remains in first place in the OHL’s West Division with a record of 22-15-1-3, six points ahead of second-place Saginaw (21-18-0-0). Kitchener improves to 26-12-1-1 and remains in second place in the OHL’s Midwest Division.

Kitchener never trailed in the game, taking a 1-0 lead at 8:12 of the first period on a power play when Lomas – parked out in front of the Plymouth goal and screening Whalers' goaltender Justin Peters – deflected Matt Lashoff’s shot from the high slot by Peters.

Rangers took a 2-0 on another power play at 1:23 of the second period when Azevedo’s shot from the left face-off dot in the Plymouth zone was knocked down at the left wing side of the Whaler goal. Lomas – parked on left side of the goal – shoveled the puck across to McGrath, who made no mistake.

Pisellini cut the Kitchener lead to 2-1 with a fine individual play at 4:39 of the third period. Killing off the final seconds of John Armstrong’s penalty, Pisellini swept the puck to neutral territory, gained speed through center ice and moved into the Kitchener zone on a partial breakaway. Pisellini faked a backhand shot in front of Packwood, then went to his right and stuffed the puck into the net.

But Lomas restored Kitchener’s to 3-1 at 13:11 of the third period on another power play when he was set up directly in front of Peters and scored. Azevedo completed the game’s scoring with an empty-net marker with two seconds left.

Kitchener outshot Plymouth, 36-30.

Plymouth and Kitchener meet again Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. the Compuware Sports Arena.