Catenacci Scores Game Winner in Windsor
The Kitchener Rangers defeated the Windsor Spitfires 3-2 at the WFCU Centre on Thursday Night. Michael Catenacci scored the game winner in the team’s first post-holiday contest. With the victory, the Rangers take the season series three games to one.
Eric Ming opened the scoring for the Rangers at the 7:58 mark of the first period. Josh Sterk found the sophomore winger with a cross-ice pass and Ming fired it past the glove hand of John Cullen for his sixth point in six games. Keli Grant also assisted on the play.
The Spitfires tied things up on the power play midway through the frame. Brady Vail wired a shot from the point that beat Kitchener goaltender Franky Palazzese. Assisting on Vail’s 13th of the season were Adrian Robertson and Kerby Rychel.
Kitchener led shots on goal through 20 minutes, with an 8-7 advantage.
The Rangers took a 2-1 lead early in the second period on a rebound goal from defenseman Max Iafrate – his sixth point in his last seven games. Curtis Meighan and Palazzese was credited with the assists on Iafrate’s third of the year.
Kitchener out-shot Windsor 16-13 in the second frame.
The Spitfires began the third period with Vail in the penalty box for hooking and the Rangers capitalized. Cody Sol’s heavy shot from the point was picked up in the crease behind Cullen and tapped in by Michael Catenacci. The captain’s ninth of the season was also assisted by Ryan Murphy.
Windsor closed the gap to one with a power play goal of their own at 7:29. Palazzese made the initial stop on Zach MacQueen but Vail picked up the rebound and lifted it over the netminder’s right pad. Nick Ebert picked up an assist on Vail’s second of the night.
That was as close at the Spitfires would get. The Rangers led shots on goal 16-14 in the third, and finished with a 40-34 advantage overall. Palazzese stopped 32 shots en route to his eighth win in his last nine starts.
The Rangers win the season series with Windsor three games to one and improve their record to 23-10-1-0. The Spitfires have lost four straight contests and drop to 17-18-3-1 this season.
Scoring
1. KIT E. Ming, (5) (J. Sterk, K. Grant), 7:58
1. WSR B. Vail, (13) (A. Robertson, K. Rychel), 11:05 (PP)
2. KIT M. Iafrate, (3) (C. Meighan, F. Palazzese), 3:38
3. KIT M. Catenacci, (9) (C. Sol, R. Murphy), 1:18 (PP)
3. WSR B. Vail, (14) (Z. MacQueen, N. Ebert), 7:29 (PP)
Three Stars
1 – WSR #97 Brady Vail
2 – KIT #34 Max Iafrate
3 – KIT #41 Cody Sol
Attendance: 6060
The Rangers return to home ice on December 30 for a 7:30 pm start against the Owen Sound Attack. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 519-578-1570 or 1-800-265-8977, via the internet or in person at The Aud Box Office or Centre in the Square Box Office.
