The Kitchener Rangers' five-game home losing streak is finally over - newcomer Julian Cimadamore saw to that.
The Rangers reclamation project led the defending Ontario Hockey League champs to a startling 6-1 victory over the Brampton Battalion on Tuesday night before 6,282 at the Kitchener Auditorium in the Rangers' final home start of 2008.
Cimadamore, 19, had two goals and two assists as the Rangers (16-18-1-1) blitzed the Battalion with five second-period goals. Not bad for a one-time Ottawa 67's forward who was signed out of tier II junior hockey three weeks ago.
Cimadamore also had two goals and an assist in Sunday's 7-5 loss in Mississauga. In eight games as a Ranger, he has six goals.
Goaltender Parker Van Buskirk kept the Rangers tied after one period, making 12 saves. He allowed only a Matt Duchene breakaway goal early.
Cimadamore swiped in a loose puck for the Rangers two minutes later, on one of eight Kitchener shots.
Brampton's Brandon Foote made a snappy glove save on Cimadamore in the second.
Van Buskirk replied by smothering a Jason Dale shot from the slot.
In other OHL action Tuesday, it was: Guelph 5 Oshawa 4; Ottawa 5 Kingston 4; London 4 Saginaw 2; and Sudbury 3 Sault Ste. Marie 1.
At Kitchener, Ont., the Rangers broke the game open with five goals in the second half of the period. Cimadamore swept in a failed Tyler Randell bid to make it 2-1. After Stephen Thorne's checking from behind major on Scott Timmins, the Rangers popped in two power-play goals.
T.J. Battani deflected in a Cimadamore drive. Randell went top shelf. Steve Lock converted a Cimadamore feed.
Ben Shutron jumped into the offence and made it 6-1 after two.
Patrick Killeen replaced Foote in the third.
The Battalion (22-11-1-1) were without top guns Cody Hodgson and Evgeny Grachev, who were away on world juniors duty.
Storm 5 Generals 4
At Guelph, Ont., Peter Holland scored twice in the Storm's win over Oshawa.
Michael Latta, J.P. Labardo and Tyler Carroll had singles for Guelph (20-13-2-3).
Brett Parnham scored twice and Kory Nagy and Andy Andreoff also had goals for the Generals (16-14-1-4).
67's 5 Frontenacs 4
At Kingston, Ont., Anthony Nigro had a goal and two assists as Ottawa beat the Frontenacs.
Thomas Nesbitt, Dalton Smith, Cody Lindsay and Logan Couture also scored for the 67's (20-14-0-2), who have won five in a row.
Taylor Doherty, Bobby Mignardi, George Lovatsis and Ethan Werek replied as Kingston (7-25-4-2) dropped its sixth straight game.
Knights 4 Spirit 2
At Saginaw, Mich., Trevor Cann's 28-save effort lifted London past the Spirit.
Jason Wilson, Philip McRae, Nazem Kadri and Daniel Erlich scored for the Knights (27-7-0-1).
Nick Crawford and Tyler Murovich had goals for Saginaw (21-22-0-2).
Wolves 3 Greyhounds 1
At Sudbury, Ont., Andrew Loverock stopped 28 shots in the Wolves' win over Sault Ste. Marie.
Dean Howard, Chris VanLaren and Eric O'Dell scored for Sudbury (17-16-1-2).
Carson Dubchak had the lone goal for the Greyhounds (15-20-2-1).