Guelph Storm Falls To Rangers In Sunday Action

Winning Streak Ends At 7 For Storm

Storm Falls To Rangers In Sunday Match

Looking to win for the eighth straight time, the Storm fell one goal short versus the Kitchener Rangers in front of another sold-out crowd at the Sleeman Centre on Sunday night.

After going two-for-two against the Owen Sound Attack this weekend, it was the end of a three-in-three against the Rangers who were also playing their third game in as many days.  The Highway 7 rivals went toe-to-toe all night long, but in the end Ryan Murphy's sixth of the season late in the second proved to be the difference.

Down one heading into the third, Guelph took it to the visitors but Joel Vienneau made a number of game saving stops in the Rangers' goal, none bigger than a shoulder save in the dying seconds.  Shots on goal in the final 20 were 15-3 in favour of the Storm.

During the first two frames, Kitchener built 1-0 and 2-1 leads only to see their hosts battle back on each occasion.  The first goal of the contest was a slapshot from eight feet out by Matt Puempel when the 19 year old forward pounced on a Ryan Murphy rebound.  The Rangers held the one goal cushion for over seven minutes stretching into the middle stanza.  Ryan Murphy was in the middle of this play as well, as he was forced to haul down a streaking Tanner Richard after the Storm centre forced a Murphy turnover at the blueline.  Awarded a penalty shot, Richard slowly skated towards Vienneau before snapping home the equalizer for his seventh of the season.

Just over two minutes later, Kitchener restored their lead.  Josh Sterk did the damage, but Brent Pederson did all the work as he bulled his way from the side wall.  Once again Guelph bounced back to knot the score.  Overager Cody McNaughton forced his way to the Rangers goal and poked home a Tyler Bertuzzi feed for his 11th of the year.  It wouldn't be tied for long though as Murphy slid into the high slot and wristed the game winner inside the far post to push Kitchener ahead again.

Garret Sparks played another solid game between the pipes for the Storm stopping 28 of 31 shots and keeping his club in early when the Rangers pressed on several powerplays.

It will be four nights off for Guelph before they host the Windsor Spitfires on Friday, February 1st at the Sleeman Centre for a 7:30 puck drop.  Two days later the same two clubs will hook up again for a Sunday afternoon meeting in Windsor.  Then it's home and home again for the Storm when they host the Kitchener Rangers on Wednesday, February 6th at 7 pm before travelling to the Aud for a Friday night tilt.

Kitchener Rangers 3 at Guelph Storm 2 - Status: End of Game

Sunday, January 27, 2013 - Sleeman Centre

Kitchener 1 2 0 - 3

Guelph 0 2 0 - 2

1st Period-1, Kitchener, Puempel 23 (Murphy ), 15:52. Penalties-Pedersen Kit (slashing), 2:57; Bertuzzi Gue (roughing), 6:59; Murphy Kit (high sticking), 11:41; McEneny Kit (hooking), 13:42; McGinn Gue (slashing), 13:59; Horvat Gue (high sticking), 15:12; Bailey Kit (roughing, roughing), 16:14; Pedersen Kit (roughing), 16:14; Harpur Gue (roughing), 16:14; Posa Gue (roughing), 16:14; Bauman Gue (holding), 17:04.

2nd Period-2, Guelph, Richard 7   2:49 (SH TXT_PS). 3, Kitchener, Sterk 5 (Pedersen), 4:56. 4, Guelph, McNaughton 11 (Bertuzzi, Watling), 16:34. 5, Kitchener, Murphy 6 (Leivo, Rieder), 17:47. Penalties-Dickinson Gue (inter. on goaltender), 2:16; Marcantuoni Kit (tripping), 6:59; Mitchell Gue (interference), 7:30; Horvat Gue (tripping), 8:19; Richard Gue (tripping), 9:39; McEneny Kit (holding), 11:29.

3rd Period - No Scoring.Penalties-Sparks Gue (tripping), 6:45; Leivo Kit (high sticking), 8:06; Garlent Gue (too many men), 8:46; Murphy Kit (slashing), 11:04; Horvat Gue (diving), 11:04.

Shots on Goal - Kitchener 1-2-0-3. Guelph 0-2-0-2.

Power Play Opportunities - Kitchener 0 / 10; Guelph 0 / 6.

Referees  - Kendrick Nicholson (22), Scott Ferguson (35).

Linesmen - Ryan Wilson (54), Kevin Hastings (61).

Scoring

1. KIT M. Puempel, (23) (R. Murphy), 15:52 (PP)

2. GUE T. Richard, (7) (unassisted). 2:49 (SH/PS)

2. KIT J. Sterk, (5) (B. Pedersen), 4:56

2. GUE C. McNaughton, (11) (T. Bertuzzi, P. Watling), 16:34

2. KIT R. Murphy, (6) (J. Leivo, T. Rieder), 17:47

Attendance: 4865

Three Stars

1. KIT - 24 Ryan Murphy

2. GUE - 17 Tyler Bertuzzi

3. KIT - 73 Matt Puempel