Rieder Scores Game Winner in Rangers’ 4-3 Victory Over Storm
A goal from Tobias Rieder in the final minute of play lifted the Kitchener Rangers to a 4-3 win over the Guelph Storm on Sunday. Michael Catenacci scored twice and Franky Palazzese stopped 34 shots to help the team to their third straight victory.
The Storm opened the scoring midway through the opening frame with an unassisted effort from Scott Kosmachuk. Kitchener netminder Franky Palazzese blocked the initial shot, but the sophomore winger stayed with it and potted his own rebound for his 17th of the season.
Kitchener evened the score with less than two minutes left in the period. With Andrey Pedan in the box for high sticking, the Rangers capitalized on the power play. Zach Lorentz fed the puck to Cody Sol at the point and he blasted a shot past goalie Garret Sparks. The veteran defenseman’s seventh of the year was also assisted by Josh Sterk.
Guelph out-shot the Rangers 14-11 through 20 minutes.
Michael Catenacci gave the Rangers an early second period lead. Blue liner Ryan Murphy brought the puck in, found the captain open to the right of Sparks and Catenacci slid it in the back of the net for his eleventh goal of the season. Zach Lorentz picked up his second assist of the afternoon on the play, giving him multiple points in back-to-back games.
Less than three minutes later, Storm rookie Justin Auger picked up a rebound and fired it glove side past Palazzese to level the score at 2-2. The power play tally was the Waterloo-native’s second in as many outings and was assisted by Kosmachuk and Matt Finn.
The Rangers took advantage of another power play opportunity with seven minutes to play in the second. Andrew Crescenzi drove to the net, moved the puck to Catenacci on the doorstep and he scored his second of the game. Tobias Rieder was also credited with an assist, his first point since returning from a gold medal performance with Germany at the Division I IIHF U-20 World Championship.
Kitchener led shots on goal in the second period with a 14-10 advantage.
The Storm tied things at 3-all midway through the final frame, cashing in on a lengthy 5-on-3 power play opportunity. Zack Mitchell’s 18th of the year brought his team-leading total to 42 points. Assisting on the play were Pedan and Jason Dickinson.
The game remained deadlocked at 3-all until the final minute of play. Rieder wired a shot from the faceoff circle past Sparks with just 56 seconds left on the clock. The German import leads the Rangers with 22 goals this season, including six game winners. Catenacci picked up his third point of the afternoon with a helper. The second assist was credited to Ben Thomson.
The Rangers out-shot the Storm 14-13 in the third period, finishing the game with a 39-37 overall advantage. Palazzese stopped 34 shots for his third consecutive win and tenth in his past eleven starts.
With the victory, Kitchener improves to 3-0 against their Midwest Division rivals this season. The Rangers record is now 25-10-1-0, while the Storm sit at 15-16-2-3.
Scoring
1. GUE S. Kosmachuk, (17) (unassisted), 10:15
1. KIT C. Sol, (7) (Z. Lorentz, J. Sterk), 18:39 (PP)
2. KIT M. Catenacci, (11) (R. Murphy, Z. Lorentz), 3:36
2. GUE J. Auger, (2) (S. Kosmachuk, M. Finn), 6:09 (PP)
2. KIT M. Catenacci, (12) (A. Crescenzi, T. Rieder), 13:14 (PP)
3. GUE Z. Mitchell, (18) (A. Pedan, J. Dickinson), 9:34 (PP)
3. KIT T. Rieder, (22) (M. Catenacci, B. Thomson), 19:03
Three Stars
1. KIT – 10 Michael Catenacci
2. GUE – 24 Scott Kosmachuk
3. KIT – 9 Tobias Rieder
Attendance: 4106
The Rangers return to home ice on Friday, January 6 when they host the Oshawa Generals at 7:30 pm. 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.
