The Stallions took the game to Rangers for 60 minutes, scoring just 33 seconds into the first period, and racking up a 5-1 lead after 20 minutes.

Kanata head coach Justin Nistico said Tuesday’s big win was well-deserved.

“We were skating hard tonight,” he said. “I think that was the best game I’ve seen (Shayne) Thompson play in the four years I’ve been here.”

Thompson picked up two goals and an assist in the game’s first period, and added an assist in the third frame for a four-point night. Brandon Timm also had four points (1G, 3A), and three players had three-point games: Kyle Fletcher, Brent Bourgeois and Chris Martin.

“We didn’t change anything (between Sunday and Tuesday),” Thompson said. “We just worked hard at practice.”

Kanata dominated at both ends of the ice on Tuesday night, with a sparkling forecheck that prevented Rangers defencemen from making decent first passes. When Gloucester did manage to enter the Stallions zone, shooters were kept well away from Stallions netminder Stephane Cesar.

When Kanata forwards got the puck, they sprinted away to create odd-man rushes on the beleagured Rangers blueliners. And things only got tougher for the visitors as the Kanata lead grew.

The Stallions scored from all angles: point shots, short-range and even from behind the net. Dave Borden – recently added from Jr. B Perth – managed the latter, bouncing the puck into the Gloucester cage off the back of netminder Francis Dupuis for Kanata’s fifth goal. Dupuis, who looked shaky even when he managed to keep pucks out of his net, was mercifully replaced after giving up five goals on 21 shots.

SUNDAY DISASTER

The loss in Gloucester came about in a steady flow. The Rangers scored four goals in each period while the Stallions got one goal per frame.

Gloucester’s Andrew Creppin picked up a hat-trick, and Kanata starting goalkeeper Christian Mastromattei was chased from the net after giving up seven goals.

Nistico said the 12-3 scoreline didn’t provide an accurate guage of the Stallions efforts.

“We outshot them (42-41), we only took one penalty, and all four of our centres were over 50 per cent on faceoffs,” he said, adding Tuesday’s game was much different in one respect: “We got saves tonight.”

Nistico said he’s happy with his team’s overall play, and the Stallions now sit slightly over .500, with 27 points from 26 games (12 wins, three overtime or shootout losses, and 11 losses).

“I think the guys are buying in, and like the offensive outlook,” he said, alluding to his philosophy since taking over the head coaching job earlier this season. “There’s not as much pressure about making mistakes.”

NEXT UP

The Stallions will have a chance to add four points this weekend when they play the league’s two weakest clubs. Kanata visits Hawkesbury tonight, Nov. 21, and will be in Kemptville on Sunday, Nov. 23.

The next home game at the KRC is Tuesday, Nov. 25, when the Cornwall Colts visit at 7:30 p.m.