The London Knights defeated the Kitchener Rangers 4-3 in a shootout Sunday afternoon. Jared Knight scored the winner for London, while Andrew Crescenzi scored twice for the Rangers and was named the game's second star. Kitchener netminder Franky Palazzese made 49 saves in the loss.

The Knights got on the board first, when they forced a turnover near the Rangers’ blueblue with four minutes on the clock. After Franky Palazzese made the initial save, Brett Welychka squeaked the rebound between the netminder’s right skate and the post. The sophomore’s seventh goal of the season was assisted by Ryan Rupert and Austin Watson.

London out-shot the Rangers 10-8 in the opening period of play.

The Rangers took advantage of a second-period power play, evening the score at the 13:33 mark. Ryan Murphy’s shot from the high slot found Andrew Crescenzi at the top of the crease and he redirected the puck past Michael Houser for his third goal in two games. The veteran centre’s 18th of the season was also assisted by Tobias Rieder, who extended his recent point streak to 13 games. The Rangers’ leading scorer has recorded 26 points during that run. The Rangers have scored with the man-advantage in 11 consecutive games.

The Knights continued to lead shots on goal with an 18-5 advantage in the second period.

Two early goals put London in front in the final frame. The Knights capitalized on a lengthy 5-on-3 opportunity, when rookie Max Domi jumped on a rebound to the left of Palazzese and snapped it in the open side of the net. Domi sits second in OHL rookie scoring with 17 goals and 23 assists, 10 points behind Rangers’ import Radek Faksa. Watson picked up his second helper of the afternoon on the play.

Just over two minutes later, McKegg carried the puck from behind the Rangers’ net and hammered it by Palazzese for his 25th of the season. Assisting on the play were Rupert and Seth Griffith.

The Rangers would respond with two special-teams markers. Midway through the frame, with his team on the power play, Murphy’s centering pass hit the skate of Crescenzi. He settled the puck and swept it past Houser for his second of the game. Captain Michael Catenacci added an assist, giving him points in 12 consecutive outings.

Three and a half minutes later Rieder evened the score at 3-all with an unassisted short-handed tally. He picked off McKegg’s pass in the Kitchener zone, raced up the middle of the ice and fired the puck past Houser for his team-leading 33rd of the year. The sophomore winger has scored seven times with the Rangers on the penalty kill, tying him for the league-lead in short-handed goals.

The remainder of the third was scoreless, forcing an overtime period. London out-shot the Rangers 22-7 in the frame, and 50-20 through three periods of play.

Neither team scored in the overtime period, sending the contest to a shoot out. The Rangers fired five shots at Houser, while Palazzese stopped two for Kitchener.

Jared Knight slid the puck under Palazzese in the second round of the shootout and Houser stopped all three Kitchener shooters to lift London to a 4-3 victory.

The win was the Knights first of the season over the Rangers. Kitchener leads the season series 3-1. London sits in first place in the Midwest Division with a 41-11-0-1 record, nine points ahead of the Rangers, who sit at 36-15-1-1.

Scoring
1. LDN B. Welychka, (7) (R. Rupert, A. Watson), 16:09
2. KIT A. Crescenzi, (18) (R. Murphy, T. Rieder), 13:33 (PP)
3. LDN M. Domi, (17) (G. McKegg, A. Watson), 1:39 (PP)
3. LDN G. McKegg, (25) (R. Rupert, S. Griffith), 3:54
3. KIT A. Crescenzi, (19) (R. Murphy, M. Catenacci), 9:14 (PP)
3. KIT T. Rieder, (33) (unassisted), 12:55 (SH)

Shootout

Kitchener Shootout
10 Michael Catenacci    No Goal
14 Zach Lorentz    No Goal
9 Tobias Rieder     No Goal
Total: 0

London Shootout
64 Ryan Rupert    No Goal
97 Jared Knight    Goal
17 Seth Griffith    No Goal
Total: 1

Three Stars
1. LDN – 92 Greg McKegg
2. KIT – 20 Andrew Crescenzi
3. LDN – 64 Ryan Rupert

Attendance: 9,046

The Rangers return to home ice on Friday, February 17, when they host the Barrie Colts at 7:30pm. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 519-578-1570 or 1-800-265-8977, via the internet or in person at The Aud Box Office or Centre in the Square Box Office.