OHL Kitchener Rangers

Wolves Topple Rangers 8-5

Published on March 2, 2012 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


A five point night from Michael Sgarbossa lead the Sudbury Wolves to a 8-5 win over the Kitchener Rangers on Friday night. Ryan Murphy and Tyler Randell each scored twice for the Rangers.

The Wolves hit the scoreboard first with a goal from team scoring leader Michael Sgarbossa as a power play expired. His 42nd of the season was assisted by Joshua Leivo and Andrey Kuchin.

Sudbury followed it up with a second goal seven minutes later. The Wolves drove hard to the net and it was Nathan Pancel firing a shot past Kitchener netminder John Gibson. Sgarbossa and Josh McFadden picked up the assists on his 21st of the season.

The Rangers responded with two quick power play goals in the final two minutes of the opening frame. Tyler Randell redirected Cody Sol's point shot through the five-hole of Johan Mattsson. The Boston Bruins prospect's sixth of the year was also assisted by Ryan Murphy.

With just one second remaining on the clock, the Rangers evened the score. Murphy caught the puck to the right of Mattsson and threw it in the open side of the cage for his 10th of the year. Rookie Radek Faksa and team-scoring leader Tobias Rieder added assists on the play.

The Wolves out shot the Rangers 16-9 in the first period.

Sudbury would regain the lead just two minutes into the second period. Andrey Kuchin and Samuel Schutt moved the puck back and forth in front of the Rangers' net before Kuchin tucked the puck behind a sprawling Gibson. Mathew Campagna was also credited with an assist.

Leivo's 28th goal of the season put the Wolves up 4-2 five minutes into the middle frame. Gibson made the initial save on Ryan Hanes, but Leivo was there to pot the rebound. The second assist was credited to Nicholas Baptiste.

Less than two minutes later, Sudbury capitalized on the man-advantage. Derek Schoenmakers chipped the puck past Gibson for his 23rd, with assists from Kuchin and Sgarbossa.

The Rangers picked up a power play goal of their own with four minutes to play. Josh Sterk moved the puck to Randell in the slot and he slid a backhand shot past Mattsson, picking up his second goal of the night. Ben Thomson also picked up an assist on the play.

Each team added a goal in the dying seconds of the middle frame. First, Wolves captain Michael MacDonald chipped in a shorthanded goal with 11 seconds remaining, with an assist from Michael Kantor.

Then with less than a second to go, Murphy fired a shot from centre ice that soared by Mattsson and in. The unassisted goal was his eleventh of the season and cut the Wolves lead to 6-4.

Sudbury continued to lead shots on goal with a 19-15 advantage in the second period.

The Rangers' power play found more success in the final frame. After Mattsson stopped Michael Catenacci, Andrew Crescenzi collected the puck and slid it past his right pad. Rieder was also credited with a helper on the veteran centre's 23rd of the season. The Rangers converted of five of their six power play opportunities in the game.

Two quick goals in the final four minutes put the Wolves in control of the game. First Justin Sefton fired the puck glove side for his second of the year, with assists from MacDonald and Sgarbossa.

Than less than a minute later, Sgarbossa was awarded a penalty shot after being brought down in front of the Rangers' net. He scored his second of the game with a low shot that snuck past the glove of Gibson. The goal brought his points total for the night to five.

Sudbury out shot the Rangers 14-13 in the final period and finished the game with a 49-37 overall advantage.

The win improves the Wolves to 32-23-4-1, while the Rangers sit at 38-21-1-1, in third place in the Western Conference.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 2, 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