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OHL Kitchener Rangers

Rangers Drop Final Game of Season 5-2 in Sault Ste. Marie

March 18, 2012 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds won the final game of the regular season 5-2 over the Kitchener Rangers on Sunday night. Ryan Sproul scored twice for the Greyhounds, while David Broll added a goal and two assists. Brandon Lesway and Radek Faksa recorded goals for the Rangers.

The Greyhounds got on the board first, near the midway point of the opening period. Andrew Fritsch connected a cross-ice pass to David Broll to the right of the Kitchener net. The veteran winger slipped a low shot by rookie netminder Jack Moylan for his eighth of the year. Nick Cousins also picked up an assist on the play.

With three minutes remaining in the frame, the Greyhounds broke out short handed and extended their lead to two. Ryan Sproul's long shot from the high slot passed through the five-hole of Moylan, with an assist from Mark Petaccio.

Sault Ste. Marie out-shot the Rangers 11-9 in the first period.

Two quick Greyhound goals early in the middle frame put the club up 4-0. Broll found Cousins open to the left of the net and the team's scoring leader fired a shot just under the crossbar behind Moylan. His 35th of the season was also assisted by Brandon Alderson.

38 seconds later, Brett Findlay found the back of the net for the 20th time this year, launching a puck glove side with help from Fritsch and Michael Schumacher. That goal would end Moylan's night as Franky Palazzese relieved the rookie after he allowed four goals on 14 shots.

Sproul recorded his second of the game three minutes later, snapping the puck high glove side for his 23rd, the highest goal total among OHL defensemen. Broll picked up his third point of the game with a helper on the play.

The Rangers got on the board near the midway point of the period. Brandon Lesway controlled the puck off a face-off deep in Sault Ste. Marie's zone, carried it to the net and backhanded it through the five hole of starter Matt Murray. The freshman's third goal of the season was his first in his last nine games.

Just over a minute later, Radek Faksa's solo effort cut the Greyhounds' lead to three. The Czech-born centre brought the puck over the blueline and launched a backhand shot into the far side of the net. The goal was his 29th of the year and set a new team record for goals by a rookie import player.

Sault Ste. Marie led shots on goal 16-14 in the second period.

The Greyhounds out-shot the Rangers 8-7 in the scoreless final period, finishing the game with a 35-30 overall advantage. Palazzese made 20 saves in relief of Moylan.

Kitchener finishes the regular season with a 42-24-1-1 record, in third place in the Western Conference. The Rangers will host the Owen Sounds Attack in the first round of the playoffs beginning Friday, March 23. Sault Ste. Marie ends 2011-12 with a 28-34-2-4 record, in ninth place in the West.

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