OHL Kitchener Rangers

Five Rangers Score in 5-1 Win Over Battalion

Published on February 10, 2012 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


The Kitchener Rangers defeated the Brampton Battalion 5-1 at The Aud on Friday. Veteran winger Ben Thomson led the way with a goal and an assist and Franky Palazzese made 38 saves and was named the contest's first star.

The Battalion got off to a quick start when captain Sam Carrick snapped a shot past the right pad of Franky Palazzese just 45 seconds into the first period. The unassisted goal was his team-leading 27th of the season and second against the Rangers this year.

Kitchener evened the score three minutes later on a great solo effort from Zach Lorentz. The sophomore forward stripped the Battalion of the puck at their own blueline and fired it through the five-hole of netminder Keegan Wilson. Lorentz has scored 19 times this season, more than tripling his total from last season.

The Rangers added three quick goals in the opening frame to take a 4-1 lead. First Ben Thomson exited the penalty box, collected the puck in stride and snapped it under Wilson for his eighth of the year. The third-year power forward has set new career highs in goals, assists (22) and points (30) this season.

Just 53 seconds later, Michael Catenacci's shot was stopped by Wilson, but the rebound bounced off Tobias Rieder and by the sprawling netminder. The German forward leads the Rangers with 32 goals this season and is riding an 11 game point streak with 10 goals and 12 helpers during that stretch. Thomson picked up his second point of the contest with as assist on the play.

Radek Faksa would add another Kitchener goal 1:12 second after that, potting a rebound on the power play. Earlier this week, the Czech-native was named the OHL Rookie of the Month for January and leads all league freshman with 23 goals. Assisting on the play were Ryan Murphy, who has points in 10 of his last 11 games and was named the league's top defenseman of the month and Catenacci, who is riding a 10 game point streak.

Each team fired 12 shots on goal in the opening frame.

The Battalion applied pressure at the net in the second period, out-shooting the Rangers 15-4, but Palazzese stood strong. The score remained 4-1 after 40 minutes.

It was a quiet third period until Eric Ming extended the Rangers' lead to four with five minutes to play, picking up a pass from Faksa and firing it over Wilson for his eighth of the year. Faksa leads all OHL rookies with 50 points. Rearguard Max Iafrate also assisted on the play.

The Battalion out-shot the Rangers 12-6 in the final period and 39-22 overall. Palazzese stopped 38 shots and received first star honours.

The Rangers sweep their two game season series with the Battalion and improve their record to 35-15-1-0. Brampton falls to 27-18-3-6.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 10, 2012


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