December 15, 2012 -

 

Matt Schmalz scored his first career Ontario Hockey League goal on Saturday night, but the Kitchener Rangers fell 4-3 in a shootout to the Erie Otters. Darby Llewellyn and Ben Thomson also scored in regulation for the Rangers.

Kitchener opened the scoring at the 5:27 mark of the first period when rookie Matt Schmalz jumped on an Otters turnover and beat Erie netminder Devin Williams. The unassisted goal was the first of his Ontario Hockey League career. Schamlz was the Rangers' first round pick in the 2012 Priority Selection.

Darby Llewellyn's second goal in as many nights extended Kitchener's lead to two goals. The freshman forward corralled a centering pass from Matia Marcantuoni and tapped it under Williams for his fifth of the year. Rearguard Cory Genovese also recorded an assist on the play, his third point in four games.

The Rangers out-shot Erie 15-6 through the opening 20 minutes.

The Otters got on the board 33 seconds into the middle frame with Jimmy McDowell's seventh of the season. Rangers netminder Franky Palazzese made the initial pad save on Connor McDavid, but the puck bounced to the veteran defenceman in the slot. The second assist was credited to Connor Brown.

Blueliner Adam Pelech's power play goal pulled Erie even 2:36 later. His fifth of the year was assisted by McDowell and Brown.

Kitchener led shots on goal 12-9 in the second period.

J.P Labardo gave the Otters their first lead of the game with just over five minutes remaining on the clock. The overager carried the puck around a defender and snapped it past Palazzese for his 12th of the season, with assists from Connor Crisp and Stephen Harper.

With two and a half minutes remaining on the clock, Ben Thomson jumped on a puck and fired it by Williams to pull the Rangers even at 3-3 and force the contest into overtime. Domenic Alberga earned the lone helper on the play, outworking the Otters defence to get the puck into the zone.

The Rangers out-shot Erie 17-7 in the third period and held a 44-22 overall advantage in regulation.

Neither team was able to secure a victory in the extra frame. Palazzese stopped the lone Otters shot he faced, while Williams made four saves in the Erie crease, sending the game to a shootout.

Labardo and Dane Fox both scored in the shootout, lifting Otters to a 4-3 win. Matia Marcantuoni was the lone Rangers skater to beat Williams.

Scoring 1. KIT M. Schmalz, (1) (unassisted), 5:27 1. KIT D. Llewellyn, (5) (M. Marcantuoni, C. Genovese), 11:28 2. ER J. McDowell, (7) (C. McDavid, C. Brown), 0:33 2. ER A. Pelech, (5) (J. McDowell, C. Brown), 3:09 (PP) 3. ER J. Labardo, (12) (C. Crisp, S. Harper), 14:39 3. KIT B. Thomson, (7) (D. Alberga), 17:28

Shootout

Kitchener Shootout 16 Brent Pedersen No Goal 91 Matia Marcantuoni Goal 73 Darby Llewellyn No Goal Total: 1

Erie Shootout 22 J.P Labardo Goal 74 Dane Fox Goal Total: 2

Attendance: 4231

Three Stars 1. ER - 4 Jimmy McDowell 2. ER - 22 J.P Labardo 3. ER - 31 Devin Williams

The Rangers travel to Erie on Saturday, December 15 for a 7:00pm game against the Otters. The team returns to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Friday, December 28 to host the Barrie Colts at 7:30 pm. Tickets to Rangers home games are available by phone at 519-578-1570 or 1-800-265-8977, inkID=cits&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode= 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.