OHL Kitchener Rangers

Strong Play from Palazzese Leads Rangers to 3-2 Shootout Win

Published on December 16, 2011 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


The Kitchener Rangers defeated the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 3-2 in a shootout Friday night. Netminder Franky Palazzese earned first star honours, stopping 46 of 48 shots to pick up his seventh straight win.

The Greyhounds struck first when Michael Kantor picked up the puck at the Rangers' blueline and fired a high shot past Palazzese. The unassisted goal at 9:57 of the opening frame was the veteran winger's second of the season.

Kitchener put Sault Ste. Marie starter Matt Murray to work in the first period, out-shooting the Greyhounds 16-9.

The Rangers pulled even midway through the second period. Eric Ming collected the puck in the corner, found Radek Faksa in front and he beat Murray block-side for his 16th of the year. The Czech import has scored twice and added two assists in his last two games played and leads all league rookies in goals scored.

Kitchener continued to lead shots on goal in the second, with a 17-11 advantage in the frame.

The Rangers would take the lead on a penalty shot awarded to Zach Lorentz with just over eleven minutes to play. The sophomore forward lifted a backhand shot over Murray for his fifth goal in his last four games. The Waterloo-native has ten goals this season, surpassing the benchmark of six he set in his rookie campaign.

Nick Cousin's 15th goal of the season evened the score at 2-all with just over four minutes to play. Brandon Alderson and Joe Rogalski assisted on the power play marker. Cousin's goal would send the game into overtime.

The Greyhounds out-shot the Rangers 26-10 in the third period.

Neither team scored in the extra frame, sending the game to a shootout. The goalies posted identical numbers through overtime, with each stopping 46 of 48 shots in the game.

Michael Catenacci and Faksa scored in the shootout, while Palazzese stopped two of three shooters, giving the Rangers the 3-2 victory. The Kitchener netminder has won seven straight starts.

With the win, the Rangers improve to 22-9-1-0, while the Greyhounds fall to 17-14-2-2. Sault Ste Marie leads the season series two games to one.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2011


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