Ontario Hockey League
Kitchener Rangers 7 Owen Sound Attack 4
Riley Damiani & Jonathan Yantsis both scored twice as the Rangers ripped the Attack 7-4.
Damiani added 2 assists for a 4 point game as Kitchener won the opening game of a home and home series on the road in front of 492 fans in snowy Owen Sound.
The Rangers blitzed the Attack for 5 consecutive goals as they built a 7-1 lead by the midway point of the game and then cruised to the victory.
Captain Rickard Hugg, Mike Petizian & Ryan Stepien, who was + 3 on the night, also scored for Kitchener who move to 47 points on the season, tied for 6th in the Western Conference with Sarnia and now just 3 points back of Owen Sound for 5th.
The Rangers have played 2 less games than Sarnia & 1 less than Owen Sound.
Barret Kirwin on a power play, Sergey Popov, Zach Poirier & Maksim Sushko scored for Owen Sound who have lost 7 of their last 8 outings.
Owen Sound outshot Kitchener 38-29 but the majority of shots came well after the issue was decided.
The backend of the home & home set will be Friday night at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium ( 7 pm for Kia of Owen Sound-Terry's Trailer Service Bearadio on 560 CFOS )
1st Period
1, Kitchener, Rickard Hugg 19 (Riley Damiani), 7:59.
2, Kitchener, Jonathan Yantsis 35 (Greg Meireles), 15:30.
3, Owen Sound, Kirwin 12 (Robertson, Bourque), 19:42 (PP).
Penalties-Arber Xhekaj Kit (instigator, fighting, 10-min. misc.), 16:45; Groulx Os (fight-inst. upon), 16:45; Cameron Kit (hooking), 18:32.
2nd Period
4, Kitchener, Mike Petizian 4 (Kyle Gentles), 1:34.
5, Kitchener, Jonathan Yantsis 36 (Greg Meireles, Joseph Garreffa), 3:30 (PP).
6, Kitchener, Riley Damiani 17 (Joseph Garreffa, Luke Richardson), 4:54 (PP).
7, Kitchener, Ryan Stepien 6 (Rickard Hugg, Riley Damiani), 11:33.
8, Kitchener, Riley Damiani 18 (Mike Petizian, Jonathan Yantsis), 13:55.
9, Owen Sound, Popov 2 (McMaster, Groulx), 15:03.
10, Owen Sound, Poirier 9 (Robinson, Doherty), 16:32.
Penalties-Doherty Os (slashing), 3:00; Bourque Os (check from behind), 4:35; Doherty Os (interference), 8:00.
3rd Period
11, Owen Sound, Sushko 11 (Kirwin, Dudas), 13:08.
Penalties-Robertson Os (kneeing), 14:18.
Shots on Goal
Kitchener 12-11-6-29.
Owen Sound 7-15-16-38.
Goalies
Kitchener, Richardson 16-16-2-0 (38 shots-34 saves).
Owen Sound, Guzda 14-13-2-1 (18 shots-12 saves); MacLean 9-8-0-1 (11 shots-10 saves).
Power Play Opportunities
Kitchener 2 / 4;
Owen Sound 1 / 2.
Referees-Ryan Jenken (36), Mike Cairns (34).
Linesmen-Michael Johnstone (41), Kevin McArthur (47).
Attendance = 492
