Faksa Leads Rangers to 5-3 Win
Radek Faksa recorded a hat trick on Sunday, leading the Kitchener Rangers to a 5-3 road win over the Oshawa Generals. Max Iafrate and Curtis Meighan also scored, while Eric Ming, Matia Marcantuoni and rookie Nick Magyar each added two assists in the win.
The game was scoreless into the final minute of the first period. With the Rangers on the power play, rearguard Max Iafrate fired a high shot through traffic that soared over Generals starter Daniel Altshuller. The veteran’s first goal of the season came with 43 seconds left on the clock, with assists from Evan McEneny and Matia Marcantuoni.
Kitchener out-shot Oshawa 8-5 in the opening 20 minutes of play.
The Generals pulled even early in the first period, with a rebound goal from Bradley Latour. The puck bounced off a goal post beside netminder Tyson Teichmann before Josh Sterk collected it in the crease and moved it to the winger, who buried it for his second of the year. Captain Josh Brown also assisted on the play.
The Rangers responded less than a minute later, jumping ahead 2-1. Import centre Radek Faksa tipped Eric Ming’s shot from the blueline past Altshuller, earning his first goal since returning to Kitchener from the Dallas Stars earlier in the week. Rookie defenceman Frank Hora collected his first career Ontario Hockey League point with an assist on the goal at 1:26.
Oshawa capitalized on its first power play opportunity of the evening to level the score at two goals apiece. Chris Carlisle punched the puck by the blocker of Teichmann for his first of the season, with assists from Cole Cassels and Sterk, his second point of the contest.
The Generals led shots on goal 13-6 in the middle frame.
Kitchener took a 3-2 lead early in the third period after a penalty shot was awarded to Faksa. The Czech forward carried the puck in slowly, sliding it between the pads of Altshuller for his second goal of the game.
The Rangers added another tally 1:14 seconds later, jumping to a two goal advantage on the power play. Nick Magyar’s sharp angle shot was turned aside by Altshuller, but third year centre Curtis Meighan pounced on the rebound, bouncing it off the goaltender for his first of the year. Ming earned his second point of the night with a helper on the play.
Oshawa elected to make a goaltending change, sending Ken Appleby to the crease in relief of Altshuller after the latter allowed four goals on 18 shots.
The Generals closed the gap to a single goal with less than 14 minutes left to play. Latour’s pass found Sterk in the slot, and the former Rangers forward moved the puck around Teichmann, backhanding it into the net for his third point of the contest. Will Petschening picked up an assist on Sterk’s second of the season.
Faksa completed the hat trick with less than 90 seconds left on the clock. Magyar set up the tally with a pass from the wing, allowing the third-year centre to one-time a shot through the five hole of Appleby. Marcantuoni also assisted on the play – his second point of the game.
The Rangers led shots on goal 9-6 in the third period, but Oshawa did finish with a slight 24-23 overall advantage. Teichmann made 21 saves in his third start for Kitchener.
With the win, the Rangers improve to 2-1-0-0 this season.
Scoring
1. KIT M. Iafrate, (1) (E. McEneny, M. Marcantuoni), 19:17 (PP)
2. OSH B. Latour, (2) (J. Sterk, J. Brown), 0:31
2. KIT R. Faksa, (1) (E. Ming, F. Hora), 1:26
2. OSH C. Carlisle, (1) (C. Cassels, J. Sterk), 4:37 (PP)
3. KIT R. Faksa, (2) (unassisted), 1:28 (PS)
3. KIT C. Meighan, (1) (N. Magyar, E. Ming), 2:42
3. OSH J. Sterk, (2) (B. Latour, W. Petschening), 6:22
3. KIT R. Faksa, (3) (N. Magyar, M Marcantuoni), 18:32
Attendance: 4344
Three Stars
1. OSH – 20 Josh Sterk
2. KIT – 94 Radek Faksa
3. OSH – 14 Bradley Latour
The Rangers return to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Friday, October 4 to host the Sarnia Sting at 7:30pm. Tickets to Rangers home games are available by phone at 519-578-1570 or 1-800-265-8977, via the internet at www.centre-square.com or in person at the Centre In the Square Box Office or the Kitchener Auditorium Box Office.