OHL Kitchener Rangers

Nine Rangers Score in Win Over Frontenacs

January 20, 2012 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


The Kitchener Rangers scored eight unanswered goals en route to a 9-1 victory over the Kingston Frontenacs Friday night. Nine different Rangers scored and John Gibson stopped 36 shots, receiving first star honours in his first appearance since December 11.

The Rangers got on the board quickly with a goal one minute into the opening period. Tobias Rieder jumped on a turnover near the blueline, raced through the neutral zone with two Frontenacs in pursuit, shifted to his backhand and slid the puck through the five hole of Igor Bobkov. The unassisted goal was the German winger's 23rd of the year - he leads all Rangers with a total of 39 points.

Kingston tied the game midway through the first period. Cody Alcock fired a shot high over the right shoulder of Rangers' netminder John Gibson. The captain's 16th on the season was assisted by team-scoring leader Darcy Greenaway and David Mazurek.

The Rangers out-shot the Frontenacs 12-11 in the opening 20 minutes of play.

Kitchener regained the lead early in the second. Radek Faksa snapped the puck high blocker-side and it went off the shoulder of Bobkov, hit the crossbar and landed behind the goalie. The play was reviewed by officials but was confirmed as the rookie's 19th of the season, with an assist from veteran defenseman Cody Sol.

The Rangers pushed their lead to two near the halfway point of the frame. Rieder's cross ice pass found blueliner Cory Genovese and his wrist shot bounced past Bobkov for his first career OHL goal. Ryan Murphy also assisted on the tally.

Kitchener continued to pressure with three more goals late in the frame. With just over five minutes to play, Max Iafrate used some quick hands to get around the Kingston rearguard and threw it in front, where it deflected off a skate and in. Assisting on the defenseman's fourth of the year were Ben Thomson and Andrew Crescenzi.

Just 95 seconds later, Petr Beranek turned over the puck deep in the Frontenacs zone and Brandon Francisco capitalized, lifting the puck over the blocker of Bobkov to make it 5-1 Kitchener. The unassisted goal was the winger's fourth of the season.

The Rangers would add one more in the final minute of the frame. Michael Catenacci chipped the puck past a Frontenac player at the blueline, broke out short-handed and put a forehand shot around the right pad of Bobkov. The captain has scored three times on the penalty kill this season. The unassisted goal was his 14th of the year.

The Frontenacs led shots on goal 14-10 in the second frame.

Kingston made a goaltending change during intermission, sending Jacob Riley out to start the final period after Bobkov allowed six goals on 22 shots.

Kitchener continued to press in the third. Midway though the frame, Brent Pedersen brought the puck out of the corner and fed it to Tyler Randell in front. The overage forward redirected the puck by Riley for his third of the season. Ben Fanelli also assisted on the play.

Curtis Meighan notched another Kitchener goal, tipping in Jesse Young's point shot with five minutes left to play. Rookie Josh Sterk also picked up a helper on Meighan's third of the year.

Zach Lorentz added one more with just 24 seconds left on the clock. Riley made the initial stop on Eric Ming, but Lorentz jumped on the rebound in front and potted his 15th of the season. Faksa also assisted on the goal and leads all OHL rookies with 39 points.

The Rangers out-shot the Frontenacs 14-12 in the final period, but Kingston did finish with a 37-36 overall advantage. Gibson made 36 saves in his first appearance since December 11 and was named the contest's first star.

Kitchener swept the two-game season series with the Frontenacs and improve to 29-12-1-0. Kingston's season record is now 12-28-2-2.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2012


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