Rangers quell Storm, take 3-1 series lead

By Josh Brown, Record staff

It was déjà-vu for the Kitchener Rangers, but this time they hung on for the victory.

For the second consecutive game, the club had a 2-0 lead late in the third period against the Guelph Storm but there was no dramatic comeback this time around.

Guelph did chip away at the lead, but Kitchener held firm for a 2-1 win Thursday night to take a commanding 3-1 advantage in the OHL western conference best-of-seven quarterfinal.

Kitchener can clinch a series win back at the Aud Friday.

Thursday’s tilt had a familiar feeling. The Storm outshot, outchanced and held an advantage on the power play just like in Game 3, this past Tuesday. In that affair, the Rangers blew a 2-0 lead in the final five minutes and lost 3-2.

But there was no rally repeat for the Storm.

Instead of sitting back, the Rangers kept on the attack until the final whistle.

“The important factor for us is that we outshot them in the third period and I think that was good for our mental psyche,” said Kitchener general manager and head coach Steve Spott. “That was, for us, a confidence booster. We know in this building what they’re going to throw at us in the third period.”

The Rangers’ dressing room was pumped heading into the final frame. Players were determined to halt any kind of comeback by the home side.

“This was probably the most vocal we’ve been between periods,” said Spott. “The boys were very energetic, talking and saying the right things. Saying the right things and executing them are two very different things but we executed in the third.”

Click here to continue reading

Kitchener Rangers 2 at Guelph Storm 1 – Status: Final
Thursday, March 28, 2013 – Sleeman Centre

Kitchener 1 0 1 – 2
Guelph 0 0 1 – 1

1st Period-1, Kitchener, Faksa 2 (Gilbert, Puempel), 10:59. Penalties-McEneny Kit (tripping), 8:33; Fanelli Kit (delay of game), 12:34; Iafrate Kit (roughing), 15:17; McNaughton Gue (slashing), 15:17; Rieder Kit (hooking), 19:20.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Leslie Gue (check from behind), 8:15; Thomson Kit (cross checking), 12:47; Bertuzzi Gue (charging), 16:56.

3rd Period-2, Kitchener, Leivo 1 (Faksa, McEneny), 9:50 (PP). 3, Guelph, Mitchell 1 (McGinn, Richard), 11:35 (PP). Penalties-served by Poliziani Gue (too many men), 7:59; Schoenmakers Kit (holding), 10:34; Pedan Gue (cross checking), 10:34; Leivo Kit (tripping), 11:08; Leivo Kit (roughing), 18:51; McGinn Gue (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 18:51.

Shots on Goal-Kitchener 8-8-16-32. Guelph 16-13-12-41.
Power Play Opportunities-Kitchener 1 / 3; Guelph 1 / 5.
Goalies-Kitchener, Gibson 3-1-0-0 (41 shots-40 saves). Guelph, Sparks 1-3-0-0 (32 shots-30 saves).
A-4,955
Referees-Mike Marley (31), Scott Ferguson (35).
Linesmen-Jason Finley (37), Ryan Wilson (54).