Rangers Outlast IceDogs in Shooutout
February 1, 2014 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release
Justin Bailey scored in regulation and again in the shootout to help lift the Kitchener Rangers to a 5-4 win over the Niagara IceDogs on Saturday night. Darby Llewellyn, Max Iafrate and Ryan MacInnis also scored for the Rangers in the victory, while Curtis Meighan recorded the winner in the shootout.
The IceDogs took an early 1-0 lead, making the most of a two-man power play opportunity. Carter Verhaeghe picked up a pass from former Ranger Eric Ming and fired a quick one-time shot past starting netminder Matthew Greenfield. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect's 24th of the season was also assisted by Vince Dunn.
Later in the frame, Verhaeghe's second of the game extended Niagara's lead to two goals. The third-year pivot tracked the puck at the side of the net, banking it off the goaltender and over the goal line, with an assist from Anthony DiFruscia.
The IceDogs led shots on goal 10-8 in the opening 20 minutes of play.
Kitchener got on the board two minutes into the middle frame when Darby Llewellyn scored his team-leading 22nd of the year. The sophomore winger forced the puck free in the IceDogs zone, and the Rangers moved it to Max Iafrate at the point. His shot was redirected by goaltender Blake Richard by Llewellyn, with an assist from James Mense-Dietrich, his first career OHL point.
Ryan MacInnis' power play marker pulled the Rangers even at 2-2 near the midway point of the period. The rookie from St. Louis fired a low point shot through traffic that slid between the pads of Richard. His 12th of the season was assisted by freshman rearguard Logan Schmidt.
The IceDogs responded just over a minute later, jumping back in front 3-2. Ben Hughes jumped on a rebound at the edge of the crease and banged it by Greenfield for his fourth career OHL tally. Alexander Protapovich and Matt Gillard picked up the helpers on the play.
The Rangers added a second power play goal later in the period to level the score once more. Iafrate launched a hard slap shot past Richard to record his eighth of the year and second in as many games, with assists from Schmidt and MacInnis.
Niagara quickly restored their one goal advantage, scoring 69 seconds later. Verhaeghe completed the hat trick to put his team ahead 4-3 with less than five minutes remaining before the intermission. Michael Fitzmorris and DiFruscia assisted on the play.
The IceDogs continued to out-shoot the Rangers in the second period, with a 9-8 advantage.
Kitchener's third power play goal of the night tied the score at 4-4 with just over seven minutes to play. Brent Pedersen's shot was turned aside by Richard, but Justin Bailey pounced on the rebound at the side of the net, lifting it over the goalie for his 20th of the year and his second in as many games. Matia Marcantuoni also picked up a helper on the play, extending his point streak to a fourth game.
The Rangers dominated shots on goal 17-8 in the third period, but neither team was able to break the deadlock, sending the contest to overtime.
Each team fired two shots on goal in the extra frame, but the contest went to a shootout. Kitchener finished with a 35-29 advantage on the shot clock.
Justin Bailey and Curtis Meighan recorded goals in the shootout, lifting the Rangers to victory. Greenfield stopped 6 of 7 shooters, including Dunn, to secure the win, his seventh of the season.
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