Gilbert Scores First in Rangers Shootout Win
Jared Gilbert’s first career Ontario Hockey League goal helped the Kitchener Rangers to a 2-1 shootout victory over the Owen Sound Attack on Friday night. Radek Faksa and Tobias Rieder scored in the shootout to secure the win for the Rangers.
Both goaltenders were perfect through the opening 20 minutes of play. Kitchener Rangers netminder Joel Vienneau made six saves in the first period, while Jordan Binnington stopped all eight shots he faced in the Owen Sound net.
The Rangers opened the scoring at the 4:48 mark of the second period. Rearguard Jared Gilbert threw a shot on net from the point that soared high over the right shoulder of Binnington. Overage centre Domenic Alberga and captain Ryan Murphy picked up the assists on the Mississauga, ON native’s first career Ontario Hockey League goal.
Kitchener out-shot the Attack 22-8 in the second period.
Owen Sound evened the score at 1-1, taking advantage of a power play opportunity with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. Cody Ceci moved the puck from the wing to Cameron Brace beside the Kitchener net. He lifted a shot over Vienneau for his 32nd goal of the season.
Brace’s goal forced the contest into overtime. The Attack led shots on goal 19-9 in the final frame.
Neither team could secure the victory in the extra frame, sending the game to a shootout. Owen Sound out-shot the Rangers 5-2 in overtime, but Kitchener finished with a 41-33 overall advantage.
Radek Faksa and Tobias Rieder both scored in the shootout to lift the Rangers to a 2-1 win. Vienneau stopped two of three Owen Sound shooters to improve to 12-2-0-3 since arriving in Kitchener in January.
The Rangers won the season series with the Attack four games to two and move within one point of Owen Sound for third place in the Western Conference.
Scoring
2. KIT J. Gilbert, (1) (D. Alberga, R. Murphy), 4:48
3. OS C. Brace, (32) (C. Ceci), 14:57 (PP)
Shootout
Owen Sound Shootout
11 Cameron Brace Goal
7 Daniel Catenacci No Goal
19 Artur Gavrus No Goal
Kitchener Shootout
94 Radek Faksa Goal
73 Matt Puempel No Goal
9 Tobias Rieder Goal
Attendance: 3185
Three Stars
1. OS – 31 Jordan Binnington
2. KIT – 31 Joel Vienneau
3. OS – 8 Cody Ceci
The Rangers’ road trip continues on Sunday, March 3 when they visit the London Knights at 2:00pm. The team returns to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Tuesday, March 5 when they host the Guelph Storm at 7:00pm. 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.
