Sports stats



OHL Kitchener Rangers

Rangers Fall 4-3 in Saginaw

March 17, 2012 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Jimmy Lodge scored the game winner as the Saginaw Spirit defeated the Kitchener Rangers 4-3 on Saturday night. Max Iafrate, Josh Sterk and Tyler Randell all recorded goals for Kitchener in the loss.

The Rangers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a goal from defenseman Max Iafrate at the 1:21 mark of the opening period. Radek Faksa started the play from deep in Rangers' zone, chipping the puck off the boards to send his teammates on the rush before Iafrate flipped a shot past Saginaw keeper Jake Paterson. Tobias Rieder and Ben Thomson picked up the assists on the rearguard's sixth of the year.

Dalton Young responded for the Spirit with just over four minutes remaining in the first. The second-year defender jammed the puck by Rangers' netminder Franky Palazzese for his fifth of the year, with assists from Michael Fine and Josh Shalla.

A late breakaway goal by rookie Josh Sterk put the Rangers up 2-1 headed into the intermission. The unassisted goal was the seventh of his freshman campaign, and third point in his last two appearances.

The Spirit led shots on goal 17-9 after the first period.

Saginaw evened the score three minutes into the second frame. Carlos Amestoy intercepted a pass in Kitchener territory, carried it the length of the ice and fired it past Palazzese for his ninth. The unassisted goal was the freshman centre's fourth point in four games.

Less than two minutes later, the Rangers regained their lead on their first power play opportunity of the game. Veteran forward Tyler Randell tapped a shot by Paterson to pick up his second goal in as many games. Radek Faksa and Ben Fanelli were credited with the assists on Randell's ninth of the year. Faksa has at least one point in six of the team's last seven games and continues to lead all OHL rookies with 66 points this season.

The Spirit tied things at 3-all with 3:23 remaining in the second period. Saginaw capitalized on an odd-man rush, with Garret Ross connecting a pass to Brandon Saad who found the back of the net, extending his point streak to three games. Brad Walch also assisted on the captain's 34th of 2011-12.

Saginaw continued to out-shoot the Rangers in the second, holding a 21-8 advantage.

The Spirit took their first lead of the game three minutes into the final period. Steven Strong got the play started in front of his own net, blocking a shot by Rieder. The puck was then collected by Jimmy Lodge, who carried it into Rangers territory and pushed it by Palazzese. The goal was unassisted and brought the rookie's season total to eight.

Saginaw led shots on goal 14-12 in the final period and 52-29 overall.

Kitchener now sits at 42-22-1-1 and will finish the regular season in third place in the Western Conference. Saginaw improves to 32-27-1-7 and sits in fifth in the West.

Scoring 1. KIT M. Iafrate, (6) (T. Rieder, B. Thomson), 1:21 1. SAG D. Young, (5) (M. Fine, J. Shalla), 15:54 1. KIT J. Sterk, (7) (unassisted), 19:36 2. SAG C. Amestoy, (9) (unassisted), 2:52 2. KIT T. Randell, (9) (R. Faksa, B. Fanelli), 4:34 (PP) 2. SAG B. Saad, (34) (G. Ross, B. Walch), 16:37 3. SAG J. Lodge, (8) 2:54

Three Stars 1. SAG - 8 Jimmy Lodge 2. KIT - 32 Franky Palazzese 3. SAG - 57 Jake Paterson

Attendance: 3,810

The Rangers travel to Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday, March 18 for a 7:05pm game against the Greyhounds. They return to home ice as round one of the playoffs begin next Friday, March 23 at 7:30pm. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 519-578-1570 or 1-800-265-8977, http://kitchenerrangers.com/page/individual-tickets via the internet or in person at The Aud Box Office or Centre in the Square Box Office.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Ontario Hockey League message board...

Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central