OHL Kitchener Rangers

Bailey Records Hat Trick in Win over Whalers

Published on November 14, 2014 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Justin Bailey's hat trick lifted the Kitchener Rangers to a 5-3 win over the Plymouth Whalers on Friday night. Gustaf Franzen and Brandon Robinson each scored for the Rangers and Ryan MacInnis netted a trio of assists in the win.

The Whalers struck first, opening the scoring 2:20 into the first period. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Sonny Milano snapped a shot past the blocker of Rangers starter Dawson Carty, earning his second goal of the season. Francesco Vilardi and rookie Will Bitten each picked up an assist on the play.

Each team fired four shots on goal in the first 20 minutes.

Team scoring leader Justin Bailey put the Rangers on the board just 14 seconds into the middle frame, knotting the score at 1-1. Sophomore centre Ryan MacInnis controlled the play off the period-opening puck drop and moved it quickly to the Buffalo Sabres prospect. Bailey fired a quick, high shot that soared past Alex Nedeljkovic, giving him his team-leading 11th goal of the year.

Bailey's second of the game put the Rangers ahead with less than seven minutes remaining in the period. Thirteen seconds into a Kitchener power play opportunity, the third-year winger collected a pass at centre ice and shifted around a Whalers defender, bouncing a shot past Nedeljkovic. Dmitrii Sergeev earned an assist on the play, which gave the club a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.

The Whalers led shots on goal 14-12 in the second period.

A quick pair of goals early in the third period put the Rangers ahead by three. Gustaf Franzen potted his fifth of the season less than four minutes in, when his long shot rattled off the goal post and behind Nedeljkovic. The Swedish import has recorded a goal in all three career meetings with Plymouth, including the game-tying goal in Michigan last Saturday night. Brandon Robinson picked up his 12th point in nine games with an assist. MacInnis was also credited with his second helper of the night on the play.

Robinson added a goal of his own just over a minute later - his third in his last two outings. The big-bodied winger was parked in front of the Plymouth net and tipped Sergeev's point shot past the netminder for his eighth of the year. Bailey picked up his third point of the night with an assist on the goal.

The Whalers got one goal back near the midway point of the period. Milano set up the tally, hopping a pass over a sprawling Rangers defenceman and connecting with sophomore Bryce Yetman. His second goal in as many games against Kitchener cut Plymouth's deficit to 4-2.

Milano's second goal of the night pulled the Whalers within one with 1:55 to play. With Plymouth on the man-advantage, the puck bounced off a skate at the top of the Rangers crease. The rookie settled it and chipped a shot high over Carty's glove for his third point of the game. Swiss import Yannick Rathgeb picked up the lone assist on the play.

With less than 30 seconds to play, Bailey completed his second hat trick of the season firing a shot into an empty Plymouth net. The Williamsville, NY native corralled a pass from MacInnis and took off through the neutral zone, outmuscling the defenceman and snapping a short-handed marker for his 14th of the year.

The Whalers let third period shots on goal 19-13 and finished with a 37-29 overall advantage. Carty made 34 saves for the Rangers and remains undefeated in regulation this season (5-0-1-1).

With the win, the Rangers take a 2-1 lead in their series against Plymouth and improve to 10-3-2-3 on the season.

Scoring

1. PLY S. Milano, (2) (F. Vilardi, W. Bitten), 2:20

2. KIT J. Bailey, (11) (R. MacInnis), 0:14

2. KIT J. Bailey, (12) (D. Sergeev), 13:26 (PP)

3. KIT G. Franzen, (5) (B. Robinson, R. MacInnis), 3:34

3. KIT B. Robinson, (8) (D. Sergeev, J. Bailey), 4:59

3. PLY B. Yetman, (5) (S. Milano), 8:56

3. PLY S. Milano, (3) (Y. Rathgeb), 18:05 (PP)

3. KIT J. Bailey, (13) (R. MacInnis), 19:31 (SH/EN)

Attendance: 6762

Three Stars

1. KIT - 95 Justin Bailey

2. PLY - 82 Sonny Milano

3. KIT - 19 Brandon Robinson

The Rangers hit the road on Saturday, November 15 for a 7:00pm meeting with the Erie Otters. The team returns to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Sunday, November 16 to host the Sudbury Wolves at 6:00pm. Tickets to all Kitchener Rangers home games are now 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.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 14, 2014


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