OHL Kitchener Rangers

Marcantuoni Scores Twice, Rangers Win 6-4 in Erie

Published on January 7, 2012 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


The Rangers used four unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the Erie Otters 6-4 on Saturday night. Matia Marcantuoni scored twice and was recognized as the game's first star, while Ben Fanelli recorded a goal and two assists in his first career multi-point night.

The Otters opened the scoring just past the midway point of the first period. Sondre Olden picked up the puck at the half wall and carried it behind the Rangers' net, where his wrap-around attempt was denied by Franky Palazzese. Jake Evans was in front for the rebound, however, and he banged it in for his third of the season.

Kitchener responded with four minutes left in the frame. Ben Fanelli carried the puck down the wing, drawing the attention of Otters' netminder Ramis Sadikov. The blueliner got the puck to sophomore winger Zach Lorentz who tapped it in the open side of the net for his thirteenth of the season. Also assisting on the play was Eric Ming, who has recorded at least one point in six consecutive games.

Erie quickly regained the lead with a goal 92 seconds later. Mike Cazzola was open to the left of Palazzese and lifted the puck over the sprawling goalie for his second of the year. Assists were credited to rookie Connor Brown and Dane Fox, who picked up his first point since joining the Otters via trade from the London Knights this week.

Just 1:10 later, the Rangers evened the score at 2-all. Fanelli fired the puck through the five-hole of Sadikov for his second career OHL goal. Ming and Lorentz recorded assists on the play, giving all three players their second points of the game.

The Rangers out-shot the Otters 17-10 in a penalty-free first period.

The quick goals continued after the intermission as Erie reestablished their lead just 37 seconds into the frame. Fox's 14th of the season was his first in an Otters' uniform, assisted by Nathan Glass and Cazzola.

Erie would then capitalize on a lengthy 5-on-3 penalty, with a goal from Troy Donnay, acquired earlier in the week from the London Knights. Brown and Cazzola were credited with the helpers on the sophomore defenseman's first of the season.

The Otters held an 11-9 advantage in shots on goal in the second period.

Kitchener cut the lead to one when Ben Fanelli came streaking down the wing, waited for the open seam and found the stick of Matia Marcantuoni. The sophomore winger slid the puck past the left pad of Sadikov for his eighth of the season. Fanelli totaled three points on the night - his first career multi-point outing. Cody Sol also assisted on the play.

Radek Faksa would level the score at 4-all with a short-handed goal, his first tally since returning from the Czech Republic team at the World Junior Hockey Championship. The rookie import picked off pass in the neutral zone and beat Sadikov five-hole for his 17th of the year. The Rangers have scored 11 times when on the penalty kill this season.

The Rangers completed the comeback with less than five minutes remaining on the clock. Andrew Crescenzi settled the puck near centre ice and headed to the Erie net, before finding Marcantuoni coming down the wing. The draft-eligible forward's second of the night put the Rangers ahead 5-4. Crescenzi extended his point-scoring streak to four games and set a new career high with 25 on the season. Also assisting on the play was Cory Genovese.

Sol would add an empty netter in the final minute to seal the victory for Kitchener. The overage defensemen set a new career high in goals, scoring his eighth of the year.

The Rangers out-shot Erie 12-11 in the third and finished with 38-32 overall advantage. Palazzese stopped 28 shots for his 11th win in 13 starts.

The victory was Kitchener's fourth in five games, improving their season record to 26-11-1-0. The Otters have lost five of six to the Rangers this season and fall to 5-32-1-1.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2012


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