Matia Marcantuoni scored the shootout winner as the Kitchener Rangers defeated the Owen Sound Attack 3-2 on Friday night. Matt Puempel scored both regulation goals for Kitchener, while John Gibson made 42 saves and stopped all five shootout attempts. The Rangers have won four straight games, including their last three at home.

Both goaltenders were perfect through the opening 20 minutes of play. Jordan Binnington stopped eight Rangers’ shots, while Kitchener netminder John Gibson turned aside all 11 shots he faced in the first.

The scoreless deadlock would continue for 15 minutes in the second period before veteran winger Kyle Hope put Owen Sound on the board. The fourth-year forward collected a pass from Joseph Blandisi in front of the Rangers net and chipped it past Gibson to tally his second of the season. Gemel Smith also collected an assist on the play.

Kitchener evened the score with 20.5 seconds remaining in the frame. Max Iafrate’s lead pass connected with Matt Puempel, who saw his first shot stoned by Binnington. The Essex, ON native pounced on his own rebound, however, and tucked it behind the sprawled Attack tender. Puempel leads the Rangers with eight goals in 2012-13, and was named to Team OHL for the Subway Super Series earlier this week. Sophomore rearguard Cory Genovese recorded his first point of the season with an assist.

Owen Sound continued to lead shots on goal in the second with a 17-13 advantage.

Puempel’s second of the game, early in the third period, pushed the Rangers to a 2-1 lead. The fourth-year winger snapped a fast shot through Binnington, his ninth of the year. Assists were credited to NHL prospects Radek Faksa and Evan McEneny.

A late tally from Smith pulled the Attack even with 1:06 remaining on the clock. The Toronto-born pivot controlled the draw deep in Rangers territory and found the back of the net with a quick shot. The unassisted goal was his fifth of the season.

Owen Sound out-shot the Rangers 15-12 in the third and finished regulation with a 43-33 advantage in shots on goal.

Neither team scored in overtime, with Gibson making one save and Binnington stopping two shots.

Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Matia Marcantuoni scored the lone goal in a five-round shootout, pushing the Rangers to a 3-2 victory.

Gibson made 42 saves in the game and stopped five shooters to pick up his fourth consecutive victory. The Rangers (7-4-0-1) have won four straight games, including three in a row at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.


Scoring
2. OS K. Hope, (2) (J. Blandisi, G. Smith), 15:02
2. KIT M. Puempel, (8) (M. Iafrate, C. Genovese), 19:40
3. KIT M. Puempel, (9) (R. Faksa, E. McEneny), 2:50
3. OS G. Smith, (5) (unassisted), 18:54

Shootout

Kitchener Shootout
73 – Matt Puempel     No Goal
9 – Tobias Rieder     No Goal
94 – Radek Faksa     No Goal
24 – Ryan Murphy      No Goal
91 – Matia Marcantuoni     Goal
Total: 1

Owen Sound Shootout
11 – Cameron Brace     No Goal
10 – Joseph Blandisi     No Goal
7 – Daniel Catenacci     No Goal
9 – Gemel Smith     No Goal
24 – Chris Bigras    No Goal
Total: 0

Attendance: 7369

Three Stars:
1. KIT – 73 Matt Puempel
2. OS – 9 Gemel Smith
3. KIT – 35 John Gibson


The Rangers hit the road Saturday, October 27 for a 7:05 game with the Plymouth Whalers. The two teams return to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Sunday, October 28 for the second half of the home-and-home series beginning 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.