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Rangers Fall 6-4 in Sault Ste. Marie

March 16, 2013 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL) - Kitchener Rangers News Release


The Kitchener Rangers fell 6-4 to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the final game of the 2012-13 regular season. Ben Thomson scored a pair of goals for the Rangers, bringing his career-best season total to 15. Owen Stewart and Joshua Leivo also scored for the Rangers.

The Greyhounds opened the scoring just past the 12 minute mark of the first period. Sault Ste. Marie controlled the puck off of a face-off in Kitchener territory and Michael Schumacher collected it and fired a high shot over goaltender Joel Vienneau. His 18th of the season was assisted by rookie Jared McCann.

Veteran Rangers winger Ben Thomson pulled Kitchener even with less than 90 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Jared Gilbert's cross-ice pass found the New Jersey Devils open in the face-off circle and Thomson snapped the puck through the five hole of Greyhounds starter Matt Murray. His 14th goal of the year was also assisted by Curtis Meighan, his second point in as many nights.

Thomson's second goal of the night put the Rangers ahead 38 seconds later, when he slid another shot between the legs of Murray. His career-best 15th of the year was assisted by Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Matia Marcantuoni.

Kitchener led shots on goal 16-13 after 20 minutes.

The Greyhounds pulled even early in the second, tying the score at 2-2 less than a minute and a half in. McCann converted Andrew Fritsch's backhand pass into his 21st of the season, with a secondary assist from rearguard Darnell Nurse.

Nurse put Sault Ste. Marie back in front with a power play tally at 4:24. His wrist shot from the point traveled through traffic in front of the net, past Vienneau for his 12th of the year. Assists were credited to Ryan Sproul and McCann, his third point of the night.

Freshman blueliner Owen Stewart's second of the year evened the score at 3-3 just over two minutes later. The Greely, ON native moved in from the point, collected a pass form Brent Pedersen and propelled it past Murray. Domenic Alberga also earned a helper on the play.

Schumacher's second marker of the night restored the Greyhounds' one goal advantage before the midway point of the frame. The second year import beat Vienneau high blocker-side, with assists from Tyler Ganly and Fritsch.

With less than two minutes remaining in the second, Dylan Staples recorded his 13th of the year, extending Sault Ste. Marie's lead to two. The veteran winger deflected Ganly's point shot over glove hand of Vienneau. Tyler Gaudet also collected a helper on the play.

The Greyhounds out-shot the Rangers 13-10 in the middle frame.

Joshua Leivo cut the Rangers' deficit to one with 11 minutes to play. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect threw a puck at the net that bounced off a defender's skate and high over the shoulder of Murray. His third goal in two games was assisted by Pedersen, his second helper of the contest.

Fritsch added an empty net power play goal with five seconds left on the clock. His 27th of the season was set up by team scoring leader Nick Cousins and Schumacher.

The Rangers led shots on goal 13-12 in the final frame and finished with a 39-38 overall advantage.

Kitchener finishes the regular season with a 39-20-1-8 record, in fourth place in the Western Conference. The Rangers will face the Guelph Storm in the opening round of the playoffs beginning on Friday, March 22.


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