McGonigle makes 51 saves in Rangers’ losing effort versus Owen Sound
Petrus Palmu scored twice and added an assist as the Owen Sound Attack defeated the Kitchener Rangers 5-3 in front of 2,876 fans at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre on Saturday night.
It was the third straight win for the Attack (5-4-0-0), and just the second regulation loss for the Rangers (5-2-0-1) who were badly outshot by Owen Sound, 56-24.
Needless to say, rookie netminder Chris McGonigle had a busy night in goal for the Rangers, making 51 saves while earning the game’s third star honours, despite the loss. Michael McNiven was in goal for the Attack and earned the win while allowing three goals on 24 shots.
Mason Kohn opened the game’s scoring just 3:59 into the first period, his second of the season, from Adam Mascherin and Jeremy Bracco.
The Rangers would strike again just 13 seconds later as Mascherin would tally his third of the season, from Bracco and Kohn, at 4:12.
Kevin Hancock got the Attack on the board with his first of the season cutting the Kitchener lead to 2-1, assisted by Maksim Sushko and Markus Phillips, at 14:35.
The Rangers led 2-1 through the first 20 minutes despite being outshot 20-8.
Sushko squared things up at 2-2 at the nine minute mark of the second period, assisted by Nick Suzuki and Sean Durzi.
The third straight Owen Sound goal gave the Attack their first lead of the night, 3-2, on a power play marker by Palmu, from Hancock and Santino Centorame, at 16:10.
Palmu’s second of the game came at 2:48 of the third period, giving the Attack a 4-2 lead from Phillips and Suzuki.
Nearly three and a half minutes later the Rangers would finally respond, as Dylan Di Perna registered his third goal of the season, from Bracco and Mascherin, at 6:16 to make it 4-3.
The Attack would ice the game with an empty net goal with just 13 seconds to play in the third period, Hancock’s second of the game, from Palmu for the 5-3 final.
Final shots on goal were 56-25, including 15-8 Owen Sound in the second, and 21-9 Owen Sound in the third.
Kitchener was 1-for-3 on the power play, while Owen Sound was 1-for-4 with the man advantage.
With three successful penalty kills, Heffner Lexus Toyota graciously donates another $30 to the Heffner Lexus Toyota PK Tally for a running total this season of $320 in support of Sun Life Financial Kids In Gear.
McGonigle (KIT) (3), Sushko (OS) (2), and Palmu (OS) (1) were selected as the Three Stars of the Game.
Darby Llewellyn, Dylan Di Perna, and Adam Mascherin each wore “A’s” and skated as alternate captains for the Rangers.
Kitchener wraps up its 3-in-3 weekend on Sunday afternoon, October 16 with a visit to Guelph to take on the Storm at 2pm.
The Rangers are back home next Friday, October 21, when they host the Hamilton Bulldogs for the lone time this season. Game time is 7:30pm.
Regular season tickets are $22.50 each for adults, $18.50 for children 12 and under, including HST and are available now in person or by calling the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Box Office or Centre in the Square (519) 578-1570 -or- 1-800-265-8977, or by purchasing online.
