OHL Kitchener Rangers

Rangers Open Playoffs with 6-2 Victory

March 23, 2012 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Tobias Rieder and Tyler Randell each scored twice as the Kitchener Rangers defeated the Owen Sound Attack 6-2 on Friday night. The Rangers take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven playoff series. Rieder added an assist for the Rangers, while team captain Michael Catenacci added three helpers.

The Attack took an early lead when Cameron Brace collected the puck and fired a shot high glove-side that snuck in just under the crossbar behind Rangers netminder John Gibson. The unassisted goal was Brace's first of the 2012 playoffs and third of his postseason career.

Kitchener evened the score just past the midway point of the opening frame. Owen Sound starter Jordan Binnington came up with the initial save but lost his footing and the puck, allowing Randell to slide it behind the tumbling netminder. His first of the series was assisted by Brent Pedersen, who collected his first career playoff point, and Andrew Crescenzi.

Just two and a half minutes later, the Attack struck again. Jake Dotchin picked up a pass at the wall near the blueline and his long shot was tipped past Gibson by Gemel Smith. Rookie Joseph Blandisi also assisted on Smith's first of the postseason.

The Attack out-shot the Rangers 16-10 through 20 minutes of play.

Kitchener tied the game at 2-all just past the four minute mark of the middle frame. Michael Catenacci found Ben Thomson in front of the Attack net and he snapped a shot by Binnington for his first career playoff goal. Veteran rearguard Cody Sol also assisted on the play.

The Rangers would take a one-goal lead on a shorthanded marker from Tobias Rieder, who pounced when Binnington coughed up a rebound and potted it for his first of the postseason. The German import led the Rangers with 42 goals in the regular season, including seven when the Rangers were short-handed. Assisting on the play were Radek Faksa and Ben Fanelli.

Kitchener led shots on goal in the second period by a 16-11 margin.

Midway through the final period of play, Rieder recorded his second of the game to put the Rangers up 4-2. Ryan Murphy's shot was stopped, but the rebound bounced to Rieder, who swept it in open side of the cage. Sol picked up his second point of the night with the other assist.

Less than a minute later, the Rangers struck again, when Crescenzi tapped a puck under Binnington that trickled across the goal line. Catenacci and Rieder were credited with the helpers on the third-year centre's first of the series.

Kitchener scored their fifth unanswered goal with just under eight minutes to play, extending the lead to 6-2. Catenacci's backhand pass found Randell in the slot and he chipped it in for his second of the contest. Murphy collected his second assist of the game on the play.

The Rangers out-shot the Attack 16-9 in the final period, finishing the game with a 42-36 overall advantage. Gibson stopped 34 shots in his first career OHL playoff start.

The Rangers take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, which resumes Saturday at the Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2012


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