Rangers Calm Storm 6-4
Captain Ryan Murphy scored once and added an assist, leading the Kitchener Rangers to a 6-4 home win over the Guelph Storm on Tuesday night. Tobias Rieder and Frank Corrado each recorded a pair of helpers in the victory and Radek Faksa, Brent Pedersen, Derek Schoenmakers, Ben Thomson and Matt Puempel also scored for the Rangers.
The Rangers opened the scoring early in the first period, jumping on a power play opportunity. Radek Faksa potted his first since returning from injury, deflecting Ryan Murphy’s shot past Garret Sparks. Tobias Rieder recorded the second assist on the Czech import’s eighth of the season.
Just over a minute later, the Rangers added to their lead with a 4-on-4 tally. With heavy traffic in front of the net, sophomore winger Brent Pedersen stayed with the puck, eventually batting it past the glove of Sparks. His career-best 14th of the season was assisted by Matia Marcantuoni and rearguard Evan McEneny.
The Storm cut into Kitchener’s lead near the midway mark of the opening frame. Cody McNaughton snapped a shot high over the blocker-side shoulder of Rangers starter Joel Vienneau for his 14th of the year. Matt Finn and Patrick Watling earned the helpers on the goal at 8:42.
Murphy re-established the Rangers’ two-goal advantage with 3:31 remaining before the first intermission. Kitchener was working on a 5-on-3 power play when Murphy found the puck just inside the blueline. His heavy one-timer flew by Sparks, giving the Carolina Hurricanes prospect his ninth of the year. Rieder picked up his second point of the contest with a helper on the play. The second assist was credited to defenceman Frank Corrado.
Kitchener led shots on goal 19-10 through the opening 20 minutes.
The Rangers extended their lead to 4-1 with a second period power play marker. Kitchener native Derek Schoenmakers corralled a pass from Corrado and lifted a long high shot over Sparks for his 14th of the season and fifth with the Rangers. Rookie Justin Bailey tallied his 36th point of the season with a helper on the play.
Each team fired 12 shots on goal in the middle frame.
Kitchener continued to press early in the third, adding a short-handed goal to go ahead by four. Ben Thomson’s jumped on a puck and beat Sparks for his career-high 12th goal of the season. Eric Ming and Ben Fanelli picked up the assists on the goal, scored with six seconds remaining in the penalty kill.
The goal prompted a change in net by Guelph. Michael Nishi was sent to the crease in relief of Sparks, after the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect allowed five goals on 32 shots.
Guelph responded quickly, finding the back of the net 48 seconds later. Scott Kosmachuk ignited the play with a face-off win in Kitchener territory, moving the puck quickly to Zac Leslie. The second-year forward buried his 11th of the year behind Vienneau, cutting the Rangers lead to 5-2.
A 5-on-3 power play opportunity allowed the Storm to pull within two goals. Andrey Pedan’s 13th of the season was assisted by Leslie and Jason Dickinson at 13:39.
With less than four minutes to play, Guelph cut the Rangers lead to 5-4. Tyler Bertuzzi carried the puck over the Rangers blueline and fired a shot that flew over the glove of Vienneau. His 12th goal of the season was assisted by Leslie, giving him three points on the night.
Matt Puempel sealed a 6-4 Rangers victory with an unassisted empty net goal with 1:18 to play. The tally was his 30th of the season, the third time in his career that the Ottawa Senators prospect has reached the 30-goal plateau.
Guelph out-shot Kitchener 10-6 in the final period of play, but the Rangers finished ahead on the shot-clock by a 37-32 margin.
With the win, the Rangers improve to 37-18-1-7 and open a five-point lead over the Storm for fourth place in the Western Conference.
Scoring
1. KIT R. Faksa, (8) (R. Murphy, T. Rieder), 3:06 (PP)
1. KIT B. Pedersen, (14) (M. Marcanutoni, E. McEneny), 4:22
1. GUE C. McNaughton, (14) (M. Finn, P. Watling), 8:42
1. KIT R. Murphy, (9) (T. Rieder, F. Corrado), 16:29 (PP)
2. KIT D. Schoenmakers, (14) (F. Corrado, J. Bailey), 13:25 (PP)
3. KIT B. Thomson, (12) (E. Ming, B. Fanelli), 2:51 (SH)
3. GUE Z. Leslie, (11) (S. Kosmachuk), 3:39
3. GUE A. Pedan, (13) (Z. Leslie, J. Dickinson), 13:39 (PP)
3. GUE T. Bertuzzi, (12) (Z. Leslie), 16:36
3. KIT M. Puempel, (30) (unassisted), 18:42 (EN)
Attendance: 7031
Three Stars
1. KIT – 24 Ryan Murphy
2. GUE – 8 Zac Leslie
3. KIT – 9 Tobias Rieder
Don’t miss the Rangers final home stand! Kitchener plays host to the Guelph Storm tonight (Tuesday, March 5) at 7:00pm. The Sagniaw Spirit will visit The Aud on Friday, March 8 at 7:30pm, and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds come to town on Sunday, March 10 at 2:00pm for our annual Fan Appreciation Game. 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
Playoff tickets for Round One, games A and B (home games #1 and #2) will go on sale to the public Friday, March 8 at 12:00pm (noon). Opponent, dates and times are to be determined and will be announced when confirmed.
Playoff 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.
Adult (13+): $22.00/Round 1
Child (3-12): $18.00/Round 1
Please note: No refunds or exchanges on playoff purchases.
