Gabriel Valenzuela scored the game winner at the 11:29-mark of the third period as the North York Rangers (7-9) rallied to down the Toronto Patriots (11-6) 3-2 on Saturday.
Valenzuela’s second tally of the night came when he picked up the puck from a knot of skates in the slot and whipped a well-aimed wrist shot far post on Patriots’ net minder Mathew Robson to send the Rangers home happy.
It was North York’s second win at Westwood Arena since the Patriots moved their last season.
Ryan Takamatsu added three assists for the first three-point contest of his career and Gianluca Baggetta made 29 saves for his seventh victory of the campaign.
Valenzuela tied the contest at one at 17:23 of the opening period by pounding home a 2-on-0 rush with Takamatsu.
After Niko Kovachis had given Toronto back the lead in the second, Matthew Whittaker evened the score again 6:43 into the third with a well-taken, spin-and-shoot in the slot past a surprised Robson.
The Rangers are back in action Sunday afternoon when they host the Milton IceHawks. Puck drops at 3 p.m. at the Herb Carnegie Centennial Arena.
