Rieder Records Hat Trick in Rangers 11-4 Win

Tobias Rieder’s three goals led the Kitchener Rangers to an 11-4 win over the Erie Otters on Sunday afternoon. The German import added an assist and extended his recent point streak to nine games. Draft eligible forwards Justin Bailey and Brent Pedersen each scored a pair of goals in the victory, while Joshua Leivo continued his point streak by scoring once and setting up another.  

Erie got on the board first, opening the scoring at the 2:51 mark. Hayden Hodgson beat Kitchener netminder Joel Vienneau with a low shot for his fifth of the season. The assist on the play was credited to Luke Cairns.

The Rangers responded less than two minutes later, when Tobias Rieder collected a puck off the boards and fired it from the faceoff circle, beating Devin Williams for his 18th of the year. The goal also extended the German winger’s recent point streak to a ninth contest. Rieder has scored eight times and added three assists over that span.

Justin Bailey put Kitchener ahead 52 seconds later, converting a pass from Brent Pedersen into his 14th goal of the season. The draft-eligible forward was named OHL Rookie of the Month for January earlier this week and has recorded five points in his past five games. Brent Pedersen and Josh Sterk earned the assists on the play.

Bailey’s second of the game came late in the first period, pushing the Rangers to a 3-1 lead. Kitchener forced a turnover at the wall deep in Erie territory, allowing the New York native to settle the puck and fire it on net. Williams made the initial save, but the puck bounced onto the freshman’s stick and he lifted a second shot high over the goaltender’s shoulder for his 15th goal of the year and12th point in his last 12 games.

The Otters cut their deficit to one goal just 70 seconds later, when Adam Pelech carried the puck through the neutral zone before moving it to teammate Nick Betz. The winger reconnected with Pelech in the slot and the veteran rearguard fired high over Vienneau to tally his seventh of the year.

Erie held a narrow lead on shots on goal in the first, with a 17-16 advantage.

The Rangers restored a two goal lead on the power play early in the middle frame. Evan McEneny’s long shot from the point was tipped into the net by Pedersen. The draft-eligible winger’s 11th of the year was also his second in his last two games against Erie. Bailey collected his third point of the afternoon with an assist on the play.

Erie responded midway through the period, capitalizing on a two-man advantage to cut the Rangers’ lead to 4-3. Pelech beat Vienneau for his second of the game, with assists from Jimmy McDowell and captain Connor Brown.

Rieder’s second goal of the game lifted the Rangers to a 5-3 lead 93 seconds later. The import forward fired a backhand shot past Williams from a sharp angle, earning his 19th of the season. Captain Ryan Murphy assisted on the play.  

With less than a minute remaining before intermission, Rieder completed the hat trick, collecting the puck at the side of the Erie net and hammering it under Williams. His 10th goal in nine games was set up by Murphy, who leads Kitchener defencemen with 33 points this season. Joshua Leivo also earned a helper, extending his recent point streak to nine games.

The Rangers led shots on goal 15-10 in the second period. Erie sent Daniel Dekoning to the crease after intermission after Williams allowed six goals on 31 shots through the opening 40 minutes.

Kitchener continued to press in the third period, adding an early goal to go ahead 7-3. Sophomore forward Josh Sterk recorded his fifth goal of the year and second in as many game against the Otters. Bailey collected his fourth point of the game with an assist onthe play. The second helper was credited to rearguard Max Iafrate.

Two minutes later, the Rangers extended their lead to five goals. Kitchener controlled the puck off the draw and Leivo fired a quick shot at the net. Dekoning made the first save, but the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect buried the second effort for his 23rd goal of the season. Rieder earned his fourth point of the afternoon assisting on Leivo’s fourth goal with the Rangers.

Kitchener made a goaltending change after Leivo’s goal, sending Jack Moylan between in pipes in relief of Vienneau.

Otters overager J.P Labardo cut into the Rangers lead with a goal just before the eight minute mark of the third. The veteran centre snapped a quick shot in front of the net through Moylan to record his 17th of the season with an assist from Brown.

Matia Marcantuoni put the Rangers ahead 9-4, scoring a short-handed tally with 5:43 to play. The speedy forward was sprung by Ben Thomson and raced through the neutral zone before firing through the five-hole of Dekoning. The goal was the Pittsburgh Penguins prospect’s seventh of 2012-13.

Two quick goals with less than three minutes to play lifted Kitchener to an 11-4 victory. First Iafrate collect a rebound in front of the crease and backhanded a shot past the paddle of Dekoning. Eric Ming and Thomson earned the assists on the blueliner’s second of the season.

Pedersen’s second of the game came just 19 seconds later when he found himself alone in front of the Erie net and beat Dekoning high blocker-side. The goal was Pedersen’s seventh point in five games, and brought his season point total to 25.

The Rangers dominated the shot clock in the third, finishing with a 21-5 lead in the frame and a 52-32 overall advantage. Vienneau and Moylan made a combined 28 saves for Kitchener.

With the win, the Rangers improve to 5-2 against the Otters this season. The victory improves their overall record to 30-15-1-5.

Scoring
1. ER H. Hodgson, (5) (L. Cairns), 2:51
1. KIT T. Rieder, (18) (unassisted), 4:18
1. KIT J. Bailey, (14) (B. Pedersen, J. Sterk), 5:10
1. KIT J. Bailey, (15) (unassisted), 15:27
1. ER A. Pelech, (7) (N. Betz), 16:37
2. KIT B. Pedersen, (11) (E. McEneny, J. Bailey), 4:42 (PP)
2. ER A. Pelech, (8) (J. McDowell, C. Brown), 8:22 (PP)
2. KIT T. Rieder, (19) (R. Murphy), 9:55
2. KIT T. Rieder, (20) (R. Murphy, J. Leivo), 19:11
3. KIT J. Sterk, (5) (J. Bailey, M. Iafrate), 1:55
3. KIT J. Leivo, (23) (T. Rieder), 3:51
3. ER J. Labardo, (17) (C. Brown), 7:57
3. KIT M. Marcantuoni, (7) (B. Thomson), 14:17 (SH)
3. KIT M. Iafrate, (2) (E. Ming, B. Thomson), 17:26
3. KIT B. Pedersen, (12) (unassisted), 17:45

Attendance: 7142

Three Stars
1. KIT – 9 Tobias Rieder
2. KIT – 95 Justin Bailey
3. KIT – 16 Brent Pedersen

The Rangers hit the road on Wednesday, February 6 for a 7:00pm meeting with the Guelph Storm.  The team returns to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Friday, February 8 when they host the Storm 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.