Rangers Win One Lose Two In Weekend OHL Combat

Rangers Lose To The Hounds In Sunday's Game

Justin Bailey scored the lone goal for the Kitchener Rangers in a 5-1 loss to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Sunday afternoon.

Bailey put the Rangers on the board first, firing a sharp angle shot through a crowd that slid under Matt Murray and across the goal line. The Buffalo Sabres prospect's eleventh of the year was assisted by Curtis Meighan, his second point in as many games.

Kitchener netminder Matthew Greenfield stopped all seven shots he faced in the opening period. The Rangers led shots on goal through 20 minutes, firing 13 at Murray.

The Greyhounds evened the score at 1-1 at the 7:37 mark of the middle frame. Jared McCann earned the puck on a faceoff in Rangers territory, moving it quickly to Tyler Ganly. His pass found sophomore rearguard Kevin Spinozzi just inside the blueline and he launched a slap shot high over the blocker-side shoulder of Greenfield. The tally was Spinozzi's first career Ontario Hockey League goal.

With less than eight minutes to play in the second period, Tyler Gaudet put Sault Ste. Marie ahead 2-1. The overage pivot carried the puck behind the goal, lifting his wraparound shot into the top corner of the net. Jean Dupuy and Keigan Goetz earned assists on the play.

The Greyhounds out-shot the Rangers 14-3 in the second period.

Two quick goals put Sault Ste. Marie ahead 4-1 with six minutes to play. Spinozzi recorded his second of the game with a long shot on goal that deflected off a skater in front and past Greenfield. McCann picked up his second point of the game with an assist. The second helper was credited to Patrick Watling.

Defenceman Alex Gudbranson added his fifth of the season 31 seconds later. The veteran Greyhound fired a point shot that was blocked by Greenfield, but picked up his own rebound and buried it. Michael Bunting and David Miller assisted on the goal at 14:06.

With less than four minutes remaining, Watling jumped on a turnover behind his own net, snapping a wrist shot the length of the ice into an empty Rangers net. The unassisted short-handed marker was his seventh of the season and secured a 5-1 Greyhounds victory.

The Rangers led shots on goal 16-11 in the third period. Each team recorded 32 shots in the game.
With the win, the Greyhounds draw even in the season series, which shifts back to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Friday, December 20.

Scoring
1. KIT J. Bailey (11) (C. Meighan), 13:03
2. SSM K. Spinozzi, (1) (T. Ganly, J. McCann), 7:37
2. SSM T. Gaudet, (12) (J. Dupuy, K. Goetz), 12:13
3. SSM K. Spinozzi, (2) (J. McCann, P. Watling), 13:35
3. SSM A. Gudbranson, (5) (M. Bunting, D. Miller), 14:06
3. SSM P. Watling, (7) (unassisted), 16:21 (SH/EN)

Penalties
1 - SSM J. McCann, 8:47 - Check to the Head, 2 min (PP)
1 - KIT C. Meighan, 17:18 - Kneeing, 2 min (PP)
2 - SSM K. Spinozzi, 1:47 - Check from Behind, 2 min (PP)
2 - KIT B. Fanelli, 4:43 - Cross Checking, 2 min (PP)
3 - KIT R. MacInnis, 0:22 - Check to the Head, 2 min (PP)
3 - SSM B. Speers, 15:34 - Kneeing, 2 min (PP)
3 - SSM M. Bunting, 17:54 - Cross Checking, 2 min (PP)

Three Stars
1. SSM - 22 Kevin Spinozzi
2. SSM - 30 Matt Murray
3. SSM - 32 Tyler Gaudet

Attendance: 3942

Rangers Win In Saturday Action With Saginaw Spirit

Darby Llewellyn scored twice and added an assist as the Kitchener Rangers defeated the Saginaw Spirit 5-1 on Saturday night. Kitchener goaltender Matthew Greenfield stopped 45 of 46 shots he faced and was named the contest's first star.

The Rangers opened the scoring with eight minutes remaining in the first period, finding the back of the net just as a power play opportunity expired. Sophomore winger Darby Llewellyn jumped on a rebound in front of the net, lifting the puck over Spirit goaltender Nikita Serebryakov. First year Rangers Nick Magyar and Frank Hora assisted on the Michigan-native's 17th goal of the season and fifth in the series against Saginaw.

A turnover in front of the Saginaw net allowed Kitchener to jump ahead 2-0 less than 90 seconds later. Llewellyn gained the puck and moved it to Scott Teskey at side of the goal, where he was able to slide a shot under the netminder for his second of the season.

The Rangers led shots on goal 16-13 through 20 minutes.

Each team fired 14 shots in a scoreless second period, but the Rangers maintained their two-goal advantage after 40.
Less than two minutes into the final frame, defenceman Max Iafrate extended Kitchener's lead with a power play marker. The veteran's heavy shot from the blueline soared by Serebryakov, giving him four goals on the year and eight points in five games. Ryan MacInnis and Magyar picked up the assists, bringing their rookie point totals to 20 and 22, respectively.

Llewellyn's second of the game put the Rangers up 4-0 at the 4:27 mark of the third period. With Kitchener on the man advantage, Serebryakov lost control of the puck and the second-year forward jumped on the loose puck, banging it in for his team leading 18th. Llewellyn has potted a pair in each of his three meetings with the Spirit this season. Kitchener native Logan Schmidt and MacInnis were credited with helpers on the play.

Just over two minutes later, Saginaw got on the scoreboard, cutting their deficit to three goals. Captain Justin Kea's crisp pass found third-year pivot Jimmy Lodge, who beat Kitchener goalie Matthew Greenfield with a quick shot, recording his 12th of the season. Terry Trafford also assisted on the tally.

A short-handed empty net goal from Curtis Meighan secured a 5-1 Rangers victory. Rookie Mason Kohn picked up an assist on the Ottawa native's fourth of the year.

The Spirit out-shot the Ranger 19-11 in the third period, and 46-41 overall, but Greenfield stopped 45 shots to secure his fifth win of the season.

With the victory, Kitchener improves to 3-0 against the Spirit this season.

Scoring
1. KIT D. Llewellyn, (17) (N. Magyar, F. Hora), 12:04
1. KIT S. Teskey, (2) (D. Llewellyn), 13:26
3. KIT M. Iafrate, (4) (R. MacInnis, N. Magyar), 1:51 (PP)
3. KIT D. Llewellyn, (18) (L. Schmidt, R. MacInnis), 4:27 (PP)
3. SAG J. Lodge, (12), (J. Kea, T. Trafford), 6:34
3. KIT C. Meighan, (4) (M. Kohn), 18:13 (EN/SH)

Penalties

1 - SAG J. Graham, 10:02 - Delay of Game, 2 min (PP)
2 - KIT B. Fanelli, 0:51 - High Sticking, 2 min (PP)
2 - KIT B. Fanelli, 4:32 - Cross Checking, 2 min (PP)
2 - KIT F. Hora, 14:50 - Interference, 2 min (PP)
2 - SAG T. Trafford, 18:30 - Hooking, 2 min (PP)
2 - KIT B. Pedersen, 19:32 - Fighting, 5 min
2 - SAG J. Sefton, 19:32 - Fighting, 5 min
3 - SAG J. Kea, 0:53 - Roughing, 2 min (PP)
3 - SAG J. Lodge, 3:30 - High Sticking, 2 min (PP)
3 - KIT J. Bailey, 11:41 - Delay of Game, 2 min (PP)
3 - KIT M. Davies, 17:21 - Hooking, 2 min (PP)

Three Stars
1. KIT - 31 Matthew Greenfield
2. KIT - 27 Darby Llewellyn
3. SAG - 21 Jimmy Lodge

Attendance: 3972

The Rangers return to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Friday, December 20 to host the Greyhounds at 7:30pm. Tickets to Rangers home games 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.