Anthony Stolarz earned his first-career post-season shutout as the London Knights blanked the visiting Kitchener Rangers 2-0 on Sunday in Ontario Hockey League playoff action.
The 18-year-old goaltender made 34 saves for the win and has stopped 63-of-64 shots against Kitchener in two games at the Budweiser Gardens, giving London a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-seven second-round matchup.
Stolarz is 6-0-0 in the post season and his 1.24 goals-against average and .959 save percentage are best in the OHL.
Max Domi broke a scoreless tie at 15:24 of the third period for the Knights, who have a league-best plus-19 goal differential in the playoffs, while Bo Horvat added an insurance goal just over three minutes later.
Domi’s goal was his fourth of the post-season and ninth point in six contests, which ties him with Alex Broadhurst for the team lead in both categories.
John Gibson turned away 28-of-30 shots for the Rangers, who have been outscored 6-1 in the series.
Both Joshua Leivo and Tobias Rieder, who finished their first-round defeat of the Guelph Storm as Kitchener’s top producers with seven points each in five games, have yet to record a point against London.
London went 0 for 3 on the power play. Kitchener failed to score on seven chances with the man advantage. The Rangers’ road power play is second-worst of the eight team’s remaining in the post-season, converting just 5.6% of chances, while at home they’re scoring 27.6% of the time, which is second-best of any team that’s made it to the second round.
The Rangers have an opportunity to get back in the series when they host Game 3 on Monday at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.
Elsewhere in the OHL, it was: Owen Sound 3, Plymouth 1; Belleville 4, Sudbury 1 and Barrie 4, Oshawa 0.
At London, Ont., the Rangers had three power-play chances and put 12 shots against Stolarz in the first period, however they couldn’t beat the Jackson, N.J., native.
Stolarz made another 12 saves in the second period as the game headed to the third period scoreless.
Chris Tierney was falling behind Kitchener’s net but backhanded the puck out front to Domi, who slid it under Gibson for the first lead of the game.
Horvat controlled the puck down the left-wing side, cut quickly to the net and beat Gibson under his left pad at 18:27 to round out London’s offence.
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Attack 3 Whalers 1
At Plymouth, Mich., Jordan Binnington stopped 36 shots and Kurtis Gabriel had a goal and an assist as the Attack beat the Whalers to even their second-round matchup at 1-1. Game 3 is set for Tuesday in Owen Sound.
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Bulls 4 Wolves 1
At Belleville, Ont., Jordan Subban, Stephen Silas and Austen Brassard put the Bulls ahead 3-0 in the first period and the Wolves could never recover. Belleville leads the second-round series 2-0 as Sudbury will host Game 3 on Tuesday.
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Colts 4 Generals 0
At Oshawa, Ont., Mathias Niederberger made 35 saves and Steven beyers had a goal and an assist as the Colts blanked the Generals to go up 3-0 in their second-round series. Oshawa will look to avoid elimination when they host Game 4 on Tuesday.
