RANGERS FALL 6-3 IN GUELPH

A goal and four helpers from Tyler Bertuzzi paced the Guelph Storm to a 6-3 win over the Kitchener Rangers on Friday night. Ben Thomson, Darby Llewellyn and Brent Pedersen scored for Kitchener, while rookie Frank Hora added a pair of helpers for the Rangers.

The Storm took a 1-0 lead less than one minute into the first period when Ben Harpur’s point shot flew through traffic, bounced off a body in front and directed past netminder Tyson Teichmann. Harpur’s second goal of the season was assisted by Phil Baltisberger and Zack Mitchell.

A second goal from Harpur pushed Guelph’s lead to two goals with six minutes to play in the frame. The Ottawa Senators prospect’s low shot from just inside blueline squeezed between the pads of Teichmann, with assists from Robby Fabbri and Tyler Bertuzzi. With his third goal of the season, Harpur ties his previous career high in goals scored.

Fabbri added the third Storm goal 36 seconds later, as he hammered a rebound by Teichmann from his post in front of the net. Bertuzzi picked up his second helper of the game on the draft eligible forward’s eighth tally of the year.

The goal prompted a change in the Rangers net as Jordan DeKort was sent out in relief of Teichmann.

Guelph led shots on goal 21-11 in the first period.

The Storm took a 4-0 lead midway through the second period. Jason Dickinson moved the puck to Fabbri in the neutral zone, and the sophomore forward carried over into the zone and fired a shot on goal. DeKort made the initial save, but Fabbri tracked the rebound in the air and batted it down into the net for his second of the game.

Fabbri completed the hat trick with less than a minute to play. A puck deflected off a defender in front and onto the second-year centre’s stick, and he quickly buried it, collecting his tenth goal of the season. Bertuzzi picked up his fourth assist on the play, while Brock McGinn’s helper extends his scoring streak to a 16th game.

Guelph continued to out-shoot the Rangers in the second by a 14-10 margin.

Ben Thomson put Kitchener on the board 29 seconds into the third period with a high shot over the glove of Justin Nichols. The overage forward’s second goal in as many games was assisted by import centre Radek Faksa.

The Storm took a 6-1 lead at the 6:50 mark when Bertuzzi converted a penalty shot attempt, notching his fifth goal of the season. The Detroit Red Wings prospect beat DeKort high blocker side, collecting his fifth point of the night.

A 4-on-3 power play goal cut the Rangers’ deficit to 6-2 with just over 10 minutes to play. Third cetnre pivot Curtis Meighan carried the play into Guelph territory, moving a quick pass to Frank Hora in front of the net. He backhanded the puck to Darby Llewellyn at the top of the crease, and the sophomore winger waited for his opportunity and snapped his fifth of the year past Nichols. The Michigan native has scored in back-to-back contests.

The Rangers cut into Guelph’s lead again with 5:15 to play. With Kitchener on the penalty kill, winger Justin Bailey forced a turnover at his own blueline and the puck was picked up by Brent Pedersen. The Carolina Hurricanes prospect carried it down the right wing, lifting a shot into the top corner of the net to record his second of the season. The short-handed goal was also assisted by Hora, his second helper of the night.

Kitchener led shots on goal 17-5 in the final frame, but the Storm finished with a 40-38 overall advantage. With the 6-3 win, Guelph takes a 2-0 advantage in the season series between these Midwest Division rivals.

Scoring
1. GUE B. Harpur, (2) (P. Baltisberger, Z. Mitchell), 0:59
1. GUE B. Harpur, (3) (R. Fabbri, T. Bertuzzi), 14:04
1. GUE R. Fabbri, (8) (T. Bertuzzi), 14:40
2. GUE R. Fabbri, (9) (T. Bertuzzi), 8:45
2. GUE R. Fabbri, (10) (T. Bertuzzi, B. McGinn), 19:17
3. KIT B. Thomson, (2) (R. Faksa), 0:29
3. GUE T. Bertuzzi, (5) (unassisted), 6:50 (SH/PS)
3. KIT D. Llewellyn, (5) (F. Hora, C. Meighan), 9:21 (PP)
3. KIT B. Pedersen, (2) (F. Hora, J. Bailey), 14:45 (SH)

Attendance: 4591

Three Stars
1. GUE – 9 Robby Fabbri
2. GUE – 17 Tyler Bertuzzi
3. GUE – 7 Ben Harpur

The Rangers’ road trip continues Sunday afternoon when the team travels to Mississauga to take on the Steelheads at 2pm. They return to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Friday, November 15 for a 7:30 pm meeting with the Owen Sound Attack. 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.