Rangers Rally Past Spitfires in Overtime to Reach OHL Final for First Time Since 2008

Key facts

• Kitchener Rangers defeated Windsor Spitfires 5-4 in overtime in Game 5 of the Western Conference final.
• The Rangers won the best-of-seven series 4-1, advancing to the OHL Championship for the first time since 2008.
• Dylan Edwards scored the game-winning goal with under two minutes left in overtime, assisted by Luca Romano and Cameron Reid.
• Windsor led 3-0 after the first period and 4-2 entering the third period before Kitchener rallied.
• Luke Ellinas played his first game since November 21, 2025, and scored a late first-period goal for Kitchener.
• Kitchener outshot Windsor 48-33 and went 1-for-2 on the power play; Windsor was 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
• In Game 4, Kitchener won 6-3 at the WFCU Centre, scoring the first four goals to take a 3-1 series lead.
• Windsor had the OHL's best penalty kill and second-best power play during the regular season but struggled on special teams in the series.

A Comeback for the Ages

The Kitchener Rangers punched their ticket to the Ontario Hockey League Championship Series for the first time in 17 years, completing a dramatic 5-4 overtime victory over the Windsor Spitfires on home ice at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. The win sealed the Western Conference final series 4-1, ending Windsor's season in a game that saw the Rangers erase a two-goal deficit in the third period. Overage forward Dylan Edwards delivered the defining moment, sniping the game-winner in the last two minutes of overtime off a setup from Luca Romano and Cameron Reid. The goal ignited a home crowd that had watched their team claw back from a 3-0 first-period hole and a 4-2 deficit entering the final frame.

Windsor's Fast Start Fades

Windsor came out with urgency, striking three times in quick succession in the opening period to seize early control. Anthony Cristoforo opened the scoring before Cole Davis and Wyatt Kennedy added to the lead, giving the Spitfires a 3-0 advantage. Luke Ellinas, playing his first game since November 21, 2025, provided the Rangers with a late first-period goal to keep the game within reach. Kitchener began to push back in the second period, cutting into the deficit on a Christian Humphreys power-play marker. Windsor responded later in the frame, as AJ Spellacy restored the two-goal cushion, sending the Spitfires into the third period with a 4-2 lead.

Rangers' Third-Period Surge

With a chance to close out the series on home ice, the Rangers elevated their play in the final frame. Sam O’Reilly brought Kitchener within one early in the period before Carson Campbell tied the game with just over two minutes remaining, capping off the late surge and sending the contest to overtime. Kitchener carried the momentum into the extra frame, outshooting Windsor 48-33 overall. The Rangers went 1-for-2 on the power play while holding the Spitfires scoreless on three opportunities. Special teams, a strength for Windsor during the regular season, proved a decisive factor in the series.

Special Teams Tell the Tale

Windsor boasted the league's best penalty kill and the second-ranked power play during the regular season. In this series, both units became a major problem. After failing to convert on an early power-play chance in Game 4, the Spitfires watched the Rangers take advantage of a five-on-three opportunity to convert both power plays for a 2-0 lead en route to a 6-3 win at the WFCU Centre. “It’s been a big part of the series, unfortunately for us we’ve been on the wrong side of it,” the Spitfires’ Anthony Cristoforo said. The Rangers' head coach Jussi Ahokas praised his team's effort: “I thought the boys played hard. We battled hard. All these games are hard, you have to compete and I thought our guys did a great job.”

Series Context and Stakes

The Rangers entered the series as the top seed, while the Spitfires were the underdog. Windsor needed to protect home ice and steal a game on the road, but after splitting the first two games in Kitchener, the Spitfires lost both games at home in Games 3 and 4. Game 5 was their last chance to force a Game 6. Kitchener's victory marks their first appearance in the OHL Championship since 2008. The Rangers will now await the winner of the Eastern Conference final to determine their opponent for the league title.

What Comes Next

The Rangers advance to the OHL Championship Final, where they will face either the Eastern Conference champion. The series is scheduled to begin next week, with Kitchener holding home-ice advantage as the higher seed. For Windsor, the loss ends a season that saw them win their fourth West Division title in five years but fall short of the ultimate goal. The Spitfires will now turn their attention to the offseason, with key decisions looming on player personnel and roster construction. The Rangers, meanwhile, will look to capture their first OHL championship since 2008 and earn a berth in the Memorial Cup.

The bottom line

• Kitchener Rangers win Western Conference final 4-1, advance to OHL Championship for first time since 2008.
• Dylan Edwards scores overtime winner in Game 5 after the Rangers rally from a 4-2 third-period deficit.
• Windsor Spitfires' special teams, a regular-season strength, faltered in the series, going 0-for-3 on the power play in Game 5.
• Luke Ellinas returns from injury to play his first game since November 21, 2025, and scores a key goal.
• Kitchener outshot Windsor 48-33 in Game 5, dominating puck possession in the third period and overtime.
• The Rangers will face the Eastern Conference champion in the OHL Final with home-ice advantage.