Storm fall to Rangers 4-2
by Matt Pelkey
Marc Stevens had a goal and an assist while rookie Liam Stevens also scored, but it wasn’t enough as the Guelph Storm fell 4-2 to their highway 7 rival Kitchener Rangers Tuesday evening.
Michael Giugovaz did what he could do, making 39 saves in the loss.
Kitchener has now been victorious in six of the seven meetings so far with Guelph this season.
The Rangers opened the scoring just after the midway point of the opening period. After a turnover in the Guelph zone, Darby Llewellyn redirected a Dmitri Sergeev point shot past a screened Giguovaz over the blocker to make it a 1-0 game.
The Storm held a 11-10 shot advantage after 20 minutes despite being down 1-0.
In the second period, Adam Mascherin gave Kitchener a two-goal lead when he one-timed a corner pass from Nick Magyar. Mascherin was to the right of the Guelph crease when the puck got to his stick for an easy tap-in past Giugovaz.
2:23 later, the Storm cut the lead in half.
Skating down the left wing, Liam Stevens fired a rebound high into the right corner of the net after Marc Stevens’ shot was kicked out directly onto the stick of Liam Stevens.
The goal made it a 2-1 game as Guelph escaped the middle frame only surrendering one marker despite being outshot 17-5.
A mere 31 seconds into the third period, the Rangers regained their two-goal advantage.
Stickhandling behind the Storm net, Mascherin fed the puck out front to Brandon Robinson who one-timed a quick shot high over Giugovaz’s left shoulder to make it 3-1.
Guelph would not go down without a fight, however.
1:21 later, Marc Stevens collected the puck along the half boards before skating into the slot and sniping a shot to the top left corner of the Rangers’ net past Carty to make it 3-2.
Mascherin tallied his second of the night on an odd play as Kitchener jumped ahead 4-2. A high Dylan Di Perna point shot deflected off of a body before dropping to the ice and bouncing off the left post where Mascherin tapped the puck across the line with an easy backhand shot.
Guelph had a few chances to get back within a goal, but the Rangers’ defence was too sturdy as the Storm fell 4-2.
Final shots were 43-24 for Kitchener.
Guelph is next in action on Friday, February 26 when the Rangers visit the Sleeman Centre for their final meeting with the Storm in 2015-16. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 p.m.
GAME NOTES
– Tonight’s game was the 7th of 8 meetings between the two teams this season. Kitchener currently leads the season series 6-1.
– The teams will meet for the final time in the Storm’s next game this Friday, February 26, 2016 in Guelph.
– Connor Bunnaman is a Guelph native.
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Guelph Storm 2 at Kitchener Rangers 4 – Status: Final
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 – Kitchener Memorial Auditorium
Guelph 0 1 1 – 2
Kitchener 1 1 2 – 4
1st Period-1, Kitchener, Llewellyn 18 (Sergeev), 10:08. Penalties-Deakin-Poot Gue (tripping), 7:16; Hall Kit (cross checking), 13:53.
2nd Period-2, Kitchener, Mascherin 31 (Magyar, Di Perna), 8:17. 3, Guelph, Stevens 5 (Stevens, Carroll), 10:40. Penalties-Llewellyn Kit (cross checking), 8:45; Garcia Gue (roughing), 9:43; Ratcliffe Gue (cross checking), 9:43; Hall Kit (roughing), 9:43; Carroll Gue (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 12:35; Llewellyn Kit (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 12:35; McFadden Gue (tripping), 14:52.
3rd Period-4, Kitchener, Robinson 15 (Mascherin, MacInnis), 0:31. 5, Guelph, Stevens 2 1:52. 6, Kitchener, Mascherin 32 (Di Perna, Miller), 7:19. Penalties-Garcia Gue (cross checking), 16:53; Carroll Gue (spearing, spearing), 20:00.
Shots on Goal-Guelph 11-5-8-24. Kitchener 10-17-16-43.
Power Play Opportunities-Guelph 0 / 2; Kitchener 0 / 4.
Goalies-Guelph, Giugovaz 14-13-5-2 (43 shots-39 saves). Kitchener, Carty 11-1-1-0 (24 shots-22 saves).
A-6,542
Referees-Mike Cairns (34), Jesse Wilmot (17).
Linesmen-Dustin McCrank (68), Adam Harris (49).
3 STARS
1) KIT Adam Mascherin – 2 goals, 1 assist
2) KIT Dylan Di Perna – 2 assists
3) GUE Marc Stevens – 1 goal, 1 assists
