Rangers Fall to Petes
Brent Pedersen scored and added an assist for the Kitchener Rangers in a 5-4 loss to the Peterborough Petes on Friday. Justin Bailey notched a pair of helpers and rookie Ryan MacInnis scored his first career goal for the Rangers in the loss.
The Rangers opened the scoring at the 7:14 mark of the first period. Jared Gilbert’s long shot from the blueline was turned aside by veteran netminder Andrew D’Agostini, but Brent Pedersen collected the rebound and snapped it into the open side of the net. The Carolina Hurricanes prospect’s first of the season was also assisted by Justin Bailey.
Matia Marcantuoni’s second of the season extended the Rangers’ lead to two goals just past the midway point of the period. With seven seconds remaining in a Kitchener power play, the fourth year forward fired a quick shot high over D’Agostini. Assisting on the tally were rearguard Max Iafrate and rookie Nick Magyar, his first Ontario Hockey League point.
A power play tally from Nick Ritchie put the Petes on the board before the end of the period. With just over four minutes to play, the third-year winger pitched a shot over the extended glove of Rangers starter Tyson Teichmann. His fourth of the year was assisted by Michael Clarke and Nelson Armstrong.
The Rangers out-shot the Petes 19-7 through the opening 20 minutes of play.
Overager Eric Ming re-established Kitchener’s two-goal cushion early in the middle frame, capitalizing on the man advantage. The Williamstown, ON native’s backhand shot was stopped by D’Agostini, but he quickly jumped on his own rebound and hammered it under the goalie for his first of the year. Pedersen and Bailey each earned their second point of the night with helpers on the play.
Peterborough responded quickly, closing the gap to 3-2 less than a minute later. Ritchie’s pass from the corner connected with Eric Cornel in the slot. The veteran Petes forward buried one from the slot, finding the net behind Teichmann for his fourth of the season. Steven Trojanovic collected the second assist on the goal at 5:38.
An unassisted tally from Ryan MacInnis pushed the Rangers to a two goal just past the midway point. The rookie forced a turnover along the boards in the Petes zone, carried the puck in front of the net and pushed it under D’Agostini for his first career OHL goal.
Ritchie’s second goal of the game pulled Peterborough within one with less than five minutes to play in the period. With the Petes on the power play, the big winger carried the puck over the blueline and sailed a low shot past Teichmann on his blocker side. Armstrong picked up his second assist of the night on the goal, Ritchie’s fourth in two games.
The Rangers continued to out-shoot the Petes in the second by a 23-14 margin.
Peterborough evened the score at 4-4 just 1:22 into the final frame. Third year veteran Chase Hatcher potted his first of the season, with an assist from centre Stephen Pierog.
Hatcher earned his second point of the game later in the period, assisting on Matt Spencer’s first career OHL goal. The Petes rang a shot off the goal post and the Petes 2013 first round pick was in front to bury the rebound and give the team their first lead of the game. Connor Bolland also assisted on the play at 13:34.
Peterborough would hang on for a 5-4 victory. Kitchener led shots on goal 16-7 in the final frame and finished with a 58-28 overall advantage.
Scoring
1. KIT B. Pedersen, (1) (J. Gilbert, J. Bailey), 7:14
1. KIT M. Marcantuoni, (2) (M. Iafrate, N. Magyar), 10:14 (PP)
1. PBO N. Ritchie, (4) (M. Clarke, N. Armstrong), 15:57 (PP)
2. KIT E. Ming, (1) (B. Pedersen, J. Bailey), 4:46 (PP)
2. PBO E. Cornel, (4) (N. Ritchie, S. Trojanovic), 5:38
2. KIT R. MacInnis, (1) (unassisted), 12:34
2. PBO N. Ritchie, (5) (N. Armstrong), 15:32 (PP)
3. PBO C. Hatcher, (1) (S. Pierog), 1:22
3. PBO M. Spencer, (1) (C. Boland, C. Hatcher), 13:34
Attendance: 6740
Three Stars
1. PBO – 30 Andrew D’Agostini
2. KIT – 72 Ryan MacInnis
3. PBO – 20 Nick Ritchie
The Rangers hit the road on Sunday, September 29 for a 6:05 pm meeting with the Oshawa Generals. They 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.