Post by QC Mike on Oct 25, 2023 15:18:57 GMT -7
Not content with their level of Jet lag, immediately after their loss to Shamrockville, Quad Cities flew back across the ocean to do battle with the Oxford Rangers. While they were able to handle the travel much better and came out with some jump, it was the home town Rangers who opened their account at 12:48 when Daniel Sprong beat Alexander Georgiev with a snap shot to put the host up 1-0. While the Q-Men were getting shots on net , only one was at all dangerous and Sam Montembeault was able to beat that aside as Oxford went into the break up 1-0. The second saw the Quarrymen lose some of their jump while the Rangers ratcheted up the pressure. Sprong scored his second of the game at the six minute mark and Johnny Gaudreau stretched the lead further a few minutes later. Nito Niederreiter scored at 12:48 to give Oxford the 4-0 lead that they carried into the second intermission.Dylan Cozens clawed one back for the Q-Men less than five minutes into the third but weren't able to grain any traction from it. A flurry of activity late in the third injected some needed energy into the game. Niederreiter potted second at the sixteen minute mark. Cozens then was sprung by Charlie McAvoy off the ensuing face off to get that one back. The faceoff from that goal was looking like a carbon copy of the Quad Cities scoring play when McAvoy's stick broke and Mike Zibbenajad went in on the breakaway to beat Georgiev and ice the win, 6-2, for the home side.
Quad Cities 2 (5 chances on 39 shots) v Oxford 6 (12 chances on 37 shots
Stars
1. Daniel Sprong (OXR) - 2 G
2. Sam Montembeault (OXR) - W, 2 GA on 39 shots
3. Dylan Cozens (QCQ) - 2G
The rematch back at the Qualcomm Quad Cities Quonset Hut saw the home side jump out to the lead inside the opening minute when Michael Rasmussen caught Tristan Jarry by surprise to bring some early energy into the Hut. However, less than a minute later Rasmussen was sent off for roughing and the ensuing face off saw Mika Zibenajad end up in front of the net all alone to tuck one past Alexander Georgiev. 1-1 after two minutes.the two sides continued to play fire wagon hockey, trading shots and chances when Jordan Martinook beat Georgiev to put the visitors ahead 2-1 at 11:36. A sublime individual effort at the fifteen minute mark by Nazem Kadri saw him draw the Q-Men level which is how the frame ended 2-2. The second saw the two teams tighten up the defense a bit but the goaltending looked shaky for both sides. First it was Johnny Gaudreau beating Georgiev at 9:12 to put the visitors back ahead. Later that shift, Gaudreau played set up man and sent in Josh Anderson who's backhand put the Rangers up by two half way through the game. Nick Schmaltz tipped William Borgen's slap pass bryond Jarry to pull the home side within one. Jesperi Kotkiemi restored Oxford's two goal lead at 14:48 and the home side went into the intermission down 5-3. Dylan Cozens pulled Quad Cities back within a goal at the twelve minute mark but the Q-Men wre unable to keep the momentum rolling. With Georgiev on the bench for an extra attacker, Owen Tippett put a dagger in the comeback with less than a minute remaining. Kevin Fiala scored a consolation goal with a few seconds left but the home side fell just short 6-5.
Oxford 6 (11 chances on 33 shots + 1EN) v Quad Cities 5 (7 chances on 40 shots)
Stars
1. Owen Tippett (OXR) - 1G on 4 chances
2. Nick Schmaltz (QCQ) - 1G on 2 chances from 7 shots
3. Jesperi Kotkaniemi (OXR) - 1G on 2 chances
