Rangers Remain Win-Win In Weekend Play On Home Ice

Rangers Bomb Spitfires

Two goals from Brent Pedersen led the Kitchener Rangers to a 5-1 victory over the Windsor Spitfires on Friday night. Justin Bailey, Tobias Rieder and Domenic Alberga also scored for the Rangers, who improve to 5-0 at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium this season.

The Rangers and Spitfires skated through a scoreless first period, with Kitchener goaltender Franky Palazzese stopping all seven shots he faced. Windsor starter Jordan DeKort responded with 12 saves through 20 minutes.

Two quick goals put the Rangers ahead early in the middle frame. Team scoring leader Tobias Rieder collected his sixth of the season, sticking with puck after DeKort had turned it aside and burying it in the back of the net. The German born forward's tally at 1:15 was assisted by fellow import Radek Faksa and defenceman Max Iafrate.

Just 28 seconds later, the Rangers extended their lead to 2-0. Josh Sterk carried the puck into the Spitfires zone and moved it to Ben Fanelli inside the blueline. His shot was tipped in front by rookie Justin Bailey, who has scored all four of his goals this season in front of the home crowd.

Windsor would get one back less than two minutes later, when Nick Ebert's shot bounced by Palazzese, giving him his first of the season. The third year blueliner's unassisted goal came at the 3:27 mark.

The Rangers continued to lead shots on goal in the second with a 16-15 advantage.

Kitchener jumped to a 3-1 lead early in the third, thanks to Brent Pedersen's pressure at the Windsor net. The sophomore winger was parked in front of DeKort and hammered a rebound by the netminder to pick up his second of the season. Sterk and Fanelli each recorded their second helper of the night on the play.

Domenic Alberga's first as a Ranger pushed the club to a three-goal lead just three minutes later. The overage forward collected a pass from captain Ryan Murphy and snapped it past DeKort to pick up his first of the season. The tally was also assisted by Eric Ming.

The Rangers took a 5-1 lead with Pedersen's second of the game at 11:26. DeKort was able to stop Sterk from close range, but could not contain the rebound. Pedersen lifted the puck over the netminder to notch his third of the year, all scored against the Spitfires. Bailey recorded his second point of the night with a helper on the play.

Kitchener out-shot the Spitfires 20-5 in the final frame and finished with a 48-27 overall advantage. Palazzese made 26 saves in his first home win of the season.

With the victory, the Rangers (9-5-1-1) improve to 5-0 at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium this season.

Scoring
2. KIT T. Rieder, (6) (R. Faksa, M. Iafrate), 1:15
2. KIT J. Bailey, (4) (B. Fanelli, J. Sterk), 1:43
2. WSR N. Ebert, (1) (unassisted), 3:27
3. KIT B. Pedersen, (2) (J. Sterk, B. Fanelli), 3:36
3. KIT D. Alberga, (1) (R. Murphy, E. Ming), 6:35
3. KIT B. Pedersen, (3) (J. Sterk, J. Bailey), 11:26

Attendance: 7343

Three Stars
1. KIT - 16 Brent Pedersen
2. KIT - 4 Ben Fanelli
3. KIT - 19 John Sterk

Owen Sound AT Kitchener - Sunday

c. Matt Puempel scored both goals in regulation and added an assist on the game winner. With the victory, the Rangers improve to 6-0 on home ice this season.

Kitchener out-shot the Attack 11-5 in the first period, but Rangers starter John Gibson and Owen Sound's Jordan Binnington were both perfect through 20 minutes.

Matt Puempel broke the deadlock in the second, jumping on a turnover inside the Owen Sound blueline and firing a shot from the slot that slid under Binnington. The Essex, ON native's team-leading 11th of the season came unassisted at 7:46.

Puempel's second of the game pushed the Rangers to a 2-0 lead with less than four minutes remaining in the middle frame. Radek Faksa collected the puck on the wing and found his linemate in front of the net. The Ottawa Senators prospect fired a shot blocker-side past Binnington to pick up his fourth against the Attack this year. Eric Ming also collected an assist on the play.

Kitchener continued to lead shots on goal 14-10 in the second period.

The Attack closed the gap midway through the third period when Cameron Brace was awarded a penalty shot. The fourth-year forward snapped the puck past Gibson to record his team-leading 14th goal of the season.

Owen Sound completed the comeback with 2:25 remaining on the clock. Holden Cook capitalized on an odd-man rush, firing the puck into the top corner of Rangers net. His fifth of the season was assisted by Chris Bigras and Kyle Hope and sent the contest into overtime.

The Attack held a 7-5 advantage in shots on goal in the third, but the Rangers finished regulation up 30-22 on the shot clock.

Captain Ryan Murphy notched the game winner for Kitchener, capitalizing on a late power play opportunity and scoring his third of the year. Team scoring leaders Tobias Rieder and Puempel were credited with the assists.

The Rangers out-shot the Attack 7-3 in the extra frame. Gibson stopped 23 of 25 total shots on goal and picked up his ninth win of the season.

Kitchener (10-5-1-1) has now won six straight games at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.

Scoring
2. KIT M. Puempel, (11) (unassisted), 7:46
2. KIT M. Puempel, (12) (R. Faksa, E. Ming), 16:08
3. OS C. Brace, (14), 12:30 (PS)
3. OS H. Cook, (5) (C. Bigras, K. Hope), 17:35
OT. KIT R. Murphy, (3) (T. Rieder, M. Puempel), 4:28 (PP)

Attendance: 7160

Three Stars
1. KIT - 73 Matt Puempel
2. OS - 15 Holden Cook
3. KIT - 24 Ryan Murphy

The Rangers home stand continues Tuesday, November 6, when the team hosts the Mississauga Steelheads at 7:00pm. Tickets are available by phone at 519-578-1570 or 1-800-265-8977, via the internet at www.centre-square.com or in person at the Centre In the Square Box Office or the Kitchener Auditorium Box Office.