Rieder Scores Game Winner as Rangers Tame the Storm
Tobias Rieder scored the game-winning goal as the Kitchener Rangers defeated the Guelph Storm 5-2 on Wednesday night. Rieder and Joshua Leivo each extended their recent point streaks to ten games, while netminder Joel Vienneau made 38 saves and was named the evening’s first star.
Guelph took advantage of their first power play opportunity, opening the scoring at the 8:37 mark of the first period. Zac Leslie’s initial shot on goal was stopped, but Scott Kosmachuk was waiting at the net to backhand the rebound past Rangers netminder Joel Vienneau. Hunter Garlent picked up the second assist on Kosmachuk’s 27th of the season.
With 40 seconds remaining in the frame, Curtis Meighan pulled the Rangers even at 1-1. Ben Thomson’s backhand shot was slowed by Garret Sparks, but the Guelph netminder lost the puck under his arm. Meighan pounced on the loose puck in the crease and pushed it past the sprawled goalie to earn his third of the season. Third-year forward Matia Marcantuoni also assisted on the play.
Each team fired 14 shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes.
The Rangers took the lead early in the second when overage winger Derek Schoenmakers found Thomson in the slot just past the two minute mark. The veteran power foward snapped a wrist shot past the glove hand of Sparks for his tenth goal of the year and fourth point in two contests. Marcantuoni notched his second helper of the night on the goal.
Less than 90 seconds later, the Rangers extended their lead to two goals. A long shot on the Guelph net bounced off the stick of netminder Sparks allowing import forward Tobias Rieder to push the loose puck into the net for his 21st of the year. The German winger is riding a 10-game point streak, including 11 goals. Captain Ryan Murphy was credited with the assist.
The Storm were quick to respond, cutting their deficit to one goal 46 seconds later. Tyler Bertuzzi’s shot could not beat Vienneau, but Justin Auger got a stick on the rebound and potted his 15th of the season. Cody McNaughton also assisted on the play.
Guelph led shots on goal 16-13 in the middle frame.
Domenic Alberga restored the Rangers’ two goal lead with 5:09 left to play, collecting a pass from Eric Ming in front of the net and sliding it under Sparks for his fourth goal of the year. Defenceman Frank Corrado picked up his sixth point since joining the Rangers in a trade last month.
Joshua Leivo extended his point streak to a tenth game with under four minutes remaining on the clock, dancing around the Guelph defender and firing a shot on net that was tipped in by draft-eligible forward Brent Pedersen, his 13th goal of the season and eighth point in his last six games. Corrado collected his helper of the night on the play.
The Storm out-shot the Rangers 10-8 in the final period and 40-35 overall. Vienneau received first star honours after making 38 saves and improves to 7-1-0-1 since arriving in Kitchener.
With the win, Kitchener improves to 31-15-1-5 and sits in third place in the Midwest Division, five points ahead of Guelph.
Scoring
1. GUE S. Kosmachuk, (27) (Z. Leslie, H. Garlent), 8:37 (PP)
1. KIT C. Meighan, (3) (B. Thomson, M. Marcantuoni), 19.20
2. KIT B. Thomson, (10) (D. Schoenmakers, M. Marcantuoni), 2:13
2. KIT T. Rieder, (21) (R. Murphy), 3:48
2. GUE J. Auger, (15) (T. Bertuzzi, C. McNaughton), 4:34
3. KIT D. Alberga, (4) (E. Ming, F. Corrado), 14:51
3. KIT B. Pedersen, (13) (F. Corrado, J. Leivo), 16:06
Attendance: 3401
Three Stars
1. KIT – 31 Joel Vienneau
2. KIT – 15 Ben Thomson
3. GUE – 20 Justin Auger
The Rangers return to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Friday, February 8 when they host the Guelph 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.
