Rangers Suffer First Loss to Storm
Scott Kosmachuk scored twice to lead the Guelph Storm to a 6-3 home win over the Kitchener Rangers on Sunday. Hunter Garlent opened the scoring for the Storm, added two assists and was named the afternoon’s first star. Kitchener forwards Tyler Randell and Radek Faksa each recorded two points in the loss. The win was Guelph’s first of the season against their Midwest Division rivals.
The Storm took an early lead on the power play, when rookie Hunter Garlent fired a high shot that beat Franky Palazzese blocker-side two minutes into the opening frame. Assisting on his 11th of the season were Stephen Gaskin and Jason Dickinson.
Kitchener also capitalized on the man-advantage in the first period. With just seconds remaining on the power play, rearguard Cody Sol found Max Iafrate with a cross-ice pass and he unleashed a that made its way through traffic and past Guelph goaltender Garret Sparks. Iafrate’s fifth of the year was also assisted by winger Zach Lorentz.
Zack Mitchell put the Storm back in front just over a minute later. Dickinson intercepted a pass inside the Rangers blueline and moved it to Mitchell in front of the net. The team’s leading goal scorer chipped the puck high off the goal post and it landed behind Palazzese. Patrick Watling also picked up a helper on Mitchell’s 31st of the season.
The Rangers led shots on goal 11-9 through the opening 20 minutes of play.
Guelph extended their lead to two goals late in the second period. With just over a minute remaining on the clock, Garlent collected the puck behind the net and centered it for Scott Kosmachuk. He lifted the puck over the glove hand of Palazzese for his 26th of the season, snapping a four-game drought. Francis Menard credited with the second assist on the play.
The Storm out-shot the Rangers 13-12 in the middle frame.
Guelph took advantage of a third period power play and extended their lead to 4-1. Matt Finn’s long shot from the point was collected in the crease by Menard, who tapped it in for his third goal in as many games. Mitchell recorded his second point of the game with an assist on Menard’s 22nd of the year.
With just over five minutes to play, Menard dumped the puck into the Rangers’ zone and Kosmachuk chased it down, snapping the puck glove side past Palazzese. His second of the game was also assisted by Garlent, who collected his third point of the afternoon on the play.
The Rangers responded less than a minute later. Josh Sterk fired a shot from a sharp angle that found the left top corner of the net. Radek Faksa and Tyler Randell picked up the helpers on Sterk’s sixth career OHL goal.
Faksa and Randell connected again in the final three minutes of the game. The Czech-born rookie’s shot from the high slot was settled by Randell in front and he poked it through the five-hole of Sparks, cutting the Storm’s lead to 5-3. The overage forward has scored two goals in three games since returning from injury. Faksa continues to lead the league in rookie scoring with 55 points. Defenseman Cory Genovese was also credited with an assist on Randell’s fifth of the season.
Down two goals with two minutes to play, Kitchener pulled Palazzese for the extra attacker and the Storm capitalized on the empty cage. Tyler Bertuzzi tossed the puck into the open net, making the final score 6-3. Kyle Pereira assisted on the freshman winger’s sixth of the year.
The Rangers held a 13-11 lead in shots on goal in the third and finished the game with a 36-33 overall advantage. Sparks stopped 30 shots in his 50th start of the year for Guelph.
The Storm picked up their first win of the season against the Rangers, who lead the season series six games to one. The victory moves Guelph (25-28-2-3) into the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Kitchener continues to sit in third in the West with a 38-19-1-1 record.
Scoring
1. GUE H. Garlent, (11) (S. Gaskin, J. Dickinson), 2:12 (PP)
1. KIT M. Iafrate, (5) (C. Sol, Z. Lorentz), 8:47 (PP)
1. GUE Z. Mitchell, (31) (J. Dickinson, P. Watling), 9:51
2. GUE S. Kosmachuk, (26) (H. Garlent, F. Menard), 18:55
3. GUE F. Menard, (22) (M. Finn, Z. Mitchell), 7:44 (PP)
3. GUE S. Kosmachuk, (27) (F. Menard, H. Garlent), 14:23
3. KIT J. Sterk, (6) (R. Faksa, T. Randell), 15:07
3. KIT T. Randell, (5) (R. Faksa, C. Genovese) 17:26
3. GUE T. Bertuzzi, (6) (K. Pereira), 17:54 (EN)
Three Stars
1. GUE – 19 Hunter Garlent
2. GUE – 24 Scott Kosmachuk
3. GUE – 23 Zack Mitchell
Attendance: 3,874
The Rangers’ road trip continues on Thursday, March 1 when they travel to Barrie for a 7:30pm meeting with the Colts. The team returns to home ice on Tuesday, March 6 when they host the Guelph Storm at 7pm. 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 Box Office.
