MAGYAR SCORES TWO IN RANGERS SHOOTOUT LOSS

The Sting opened the scoring at the 7:28 mark of the opening period, when defenceman Kevin Spinozzi caught netminder Jordan DeKort out of position and beat him with a high shot from just inside the blueline. Overager Nick Latta picked up the lone assist on Spinozzi’s fifth of the season.

Two quick goals just past the midway point put Sarnia up 3-0. Matteo Ciccarelli scored his second goal of the season near the 11 minute mark, firing a shot past DeKort. Ryan Vendramin and Brenden Trottier earned the helpers on the sophomore’s tally.

Import forward Nikolay Goldobin picked up his 36th of the season just 38 seconds later, beating DeKort with help from Nikita Korostelev and Jeff King. The draft-eligible winger has points in five of his last six games.

Korostelev added the 15th of his rookie campaign before the end of the frame, sending the Sting to the dressing room with a four-goal lead. The Russian winger’s second marker in as many games was assisted by Daniel Nikandrov and Jimmy McDowell.

Sarnia netminder Taylor Dupuis was perfect through 20 minutes as the Sting out-shot the Rangers 13-11.

Darby Llewellyn put the Rangers on the board early in the second period, racing through the netural zone on a breakaway and slipping the puck under Dupuis. The unassisted goal ties him with Justin Bailey for the team lead with 25. 

The Sting responded quickly, restoring their four goal advantage just over a minute later. Goldobin recorded his second of the night, shifting the puck to his backhand in front of the net and shovelling a shot past DeKort. His team-leading 27th of the year was assisted by Korostelev and King.

Kitchener continued to press, cutting into Sarnia’s lead with a power play marker before the eight minute mark. Rookie Mason Kohn collected a pass from blueliner Dmitrii Sergeev beside the net and lifted a shot just under the crossbar for his ninth of the year. Rearguard Logan Schmidt also assisted on the Florida native’s third point in four games.

Dominik Kubalik’s third goal in two nights pulled the Rangers closer, cutting the Sting lead to 5-3. The Czech-born winger carried the behind the net and fired a backhand shot over the shoulder of Dupuis for his 18th of the year. James Mense-Dietrich and Schmidt earned points with helpers on the play.

Magyar pulled Kitchener within one just 47 seconds later. The freshman took several swipes at the puck in front of the net, before he was able to lift it high over Dupuis. Defenceman doug Blaisdell picked up an assist on the Mentor, OH native’s 19th of the season. Veteran centre Curtis Meighan was also credited with a helper on the play.

The Rangers would add one more before the intermission, pulling even at 5-5. Brent Pedersen fired a long shot from the boards that soared over Dupuis, giving him two points on the night. His career-best 18th of the year was assisted by Schmidt and Magyar.

Kitchener led shots on goal 18-9 in the second period.

Magyar’s second of the game lifted the Rangers to their first lead of the game early in the final frame. Meighan’s shot was blocked by Dupuis, but the draft-eligible rookie tracked the loose puck in the crease and tapped it over the goal line for his 20th fo the year. Schmidt picked up his fourth assist of the night on the goal.

Sarnia scored with less than seven minutes to play, forcing the game into an overtime period. Korostelev notched his second of the game at 13:46, with help from Goldobin and Joshua Chapman.

The Rangers continued to lead shots on goal in the third period, with an 8-6 advantage.

Neither team scored in the extra frame, in spite of the Sting’s 7-1 lead on the shot clock, forcing the contest into the shootout.

Noah Bushnell and Latta each recorded goals in a four round shootout to secure a 7-6 Sarnia victory. Pedersen was the lone Rangers player to beat Dupuis.

Scoring
1. SAR K. Spinozzi, (5) (N. Latta), 7:28
1. SAR M. Ciccarelli, (2) (R. Vendramin, B. Trottier), 10:51
1. SAR N. Goldobin, (36) (N. Korostelev, J. King), 11:13
1. SAR N. Korostelev, (15) (D. Nikandrov, J. McDowell), 14:42
2. KIT D. Llewellyn, (25) (unassisted), 4:39
2. SAR N. Goldobin, (37) (N. Korostelev, J. King), 5:43
2. KIT M. Kohn, (9) (D. Sergeev, L. Schmidt), 7:37 (PP)
2. KIT D. Kubalik, (18) (J. Mense-Dietrich, L. Schmidt), 13:10
2. KIT N. Magyar, (19) (D. Blaisdell, C. Meighan), 13:57
2. KIT B. Pedersen, (18) (L. Schmidt, N. Magyar), 17:02
3. N. Maygar, (20) (L. Schmidt, C. Meighan), 4:08
3. SAR N. Korostelev, (16) (N. Goldobin, J. Chapman), 13:46

Shootout

Sarnia Shootout
35 Nikita Korostelev    No Goal
27 Nikolay Goldobin    No Goal
6 Noah Bushnell    Goal
14 Nick Latta        Goal
Total: 2

Kitchener Shootout
16 Brent Pedersen    Goal
27 Darby Llewellyn     No Goal
89 Dominik Kubalik     No Goal
20 Nick Magyar        No Goal
Total: 1

Attendance: 2951

Three Stars
1. SAR – 14 Nickolas Latta
2. SAR – 3 Jimmy McDowell
3. SAR – 35 Nikita Korostelev

The Rangers return home to welcome the Windsor Spitfires for Fan Appreciation Day on Friday, March 14 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.