Puempel’s Hat Trick Leads Rangers to 4-2 Victory
Matt Puempel’s hat trick propelled the Kitchener Rangers to a 4-2 victory over the Erie Otters on Saturday night. Matia Marcantuoni also scored and added an assist for the Rangers, who improve to 2-0 over their Midwest Division rivals this season.
The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the early stages of the first period, when winger Tobias Rieder chipped the puck into the Otters zone and chased it down. He sent a pass to Matia Marcantuoni, open in front of the net and he fired it by Erie starter Oscar Dansk for his third of the season. The second assist was credited to defencemen Ben Fanelli.
Matt Puempel’s 19th goal of the season extended Kitchener’s lead to two goals at the 12:21 mark of the opening period. Centre Radek Faksa carried the puck over the blueline and dropped pass for Puempel on the wing. The Essex, ON native snapped a shot into the top corner of the net, over the glove hand of Dansk. Eric Ming also collected an assist on the play.
Erie cut into the Rangers lead with a power play goal less than a minute later. Overage forward J.P. Labardo recorded his eighth of the season, pushing a puck past Kitchener goaltender John Gibson. The assists were credit to team-scoring leader Connor Brown and rookie Connor McDavid.
Each team fired 8 shots on goal through 20 minutes of play.
Kitchener came into the second period on the power play and quickly took advantage. Puempel notched his second of the game, blasting a low shot by Dansk to put the Rangers ahead 3-1. Marcantuoni and Rieder each recorded their second point of the night with assists on the play.
The teams continued to be evenly matched on the shot clock in the middle frame, each firing 10 shots on goal.
Erie pulled within one early in the final period. Stephen Harper’s cross ice pass connected with Spencer Abraham, who had crept in from blueline to fire a high shot past Gibson. The veteran rearguard’s third of the season was also assisted by Kyle Pettit.
Puempel completed the hat trick, adding another power play marker with less than five minutes remaining on the clock. The Ottawa Senators prospect pounced on a rebound in front of Dansk just six seconds into the man advantage, burying it for his team-leading 21st of the year. Puempel has six points in his last two games. Assists on the play were credited to captain Ryan Murphy and Faksa, his second point of the evening and eighth in his past four games.
The Otters led shots on goal 17-7 in the third period and finished the game with a 35-25 overall advantage. Gibson made 33 saves in his 12th win of the season.
With the victory, the Rangers improve to 16-7-1-1 this season.
Scoring
1. KIT M. Marcantuoni, (3) (T. Rieder, B. Fanelli), 4:07
1. KIT M. Puempel, (19) (R. Faksa, E. Ming), 12:21
1. ER J. Labardo, (8) (C. Brown, C. McDavid), 13:20 (PP)
2. KIT M. Puempel, (20) (M. Marcantuoni, T. Rieder), 1:31 (PP)
3. ER S. Abraham, (3) (S. Harper, K Pettit), 3:16
3. KIT M. Puempel, (21) (R. Murphy, R. Faksa)
Attendance: 2867
Three Stars
1. KIT – 73 Matt Puempel
2. KIT – 9 Tobias Rieder
3. ER – 9 Spencer Abraham
The Rangers return to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Tuesday, November 27 to host the London Knights at 7pm. The home stand continues on Friday, November 30 against the Windsor Spitfires. Please note that due to the nationally televised broadcast of Rogers Sportsnet Friday Night Hockey, game time has been changed to 7pm. Tickets 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.
