AHL San Antonio Rampage

Bulldogs Blank Rampage 3-0

Published on October 23, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
San Antonio Rampage News Release


SAN ANTONIO (October 23, 2009) - On Friday night two of the top teams in the AHL's Western Conference clashed in a battle of the titans at the AT&T Center, with the Hamilton Bulldogs defeating the San Antonio Rampage with a 3-0 score. San Antonio entered the game with the league's best record at 6-1-1-0, while Hamilton entered Friday at 4-0-1-1, representing the only AHL club to have yet to surrender a regulation loss in the 2009-10 season.

Hamilton left wing Tommy Pyatt opened the scoring at the 5:14 mark of the first as the Bulldogs capitalized on an intercepted breakout pass at the top of the left circle in San Antonio's defensive zone. Bulldogs center Brock Trotter and right wing Sergei Kostitsyn were credited with assists on Pyatt's goal. The Bulldogs' goal would prove to be the only tally of the period as Hamilton headed to the first intermission with a 1-0 lead.

Both clubs were efficient on the penalty kill during the opening stanza as San Antonio fought off all four Bulldog man-advantages and Hamilton warded off two Rampage power-play opportunities in the first.

Following a first period that saw referee Jamie Koharski whistle both teams for a combined eight penalties, only one infraction was called in a scoreless second.

However, the Bulldogs would extend their lead to two goals early in the final period. At the 2:55 mark of the third session, Rampage left wing Ryan Hollweg was whistled for a roughing penalty, providing Hamilton with yet another power play. Following a Hamilton rush into the San Antonio zone, Hamilton center Ryan White found the puck on the left boards and passed to Bulldog blueliner Andre Benoit on the left point. Benoit then sent a shot toward the right post on which Montoya made the initial save, but surrendered a rebound. Hamilton center Ben Maxwell then poked at the puck multiple times before backhanding the puck inside the left post to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.

Nearly 11 minutes later, following a three-player scrum that saw Koharski whistle Hollweg for a 10 minute misconduct for instigating, Hamilton added an insurance goal on yet another power play. The Bulldogs score came off a Mathieu Carle shot from the high slot on which Montoya made the initial save, but saw the puck eventually roll off his leg pad and into the San Antonio net. Tommy Pyatt and J.T. Wyman earned assists on Carle's goal. Hamilton's three goals proved to be more than enough as Bulldog netminder Curtis Sanford earned his second shutout of the season.

In the contest, San Antonio was whistled for a total of 11 penalties, failed to convert on four power play chances and allowed two power play goals. Rampage goaltender Al Montoya saved 33 of the 36 shots he faced, while Sanford turned away all 24 Rampage shots on goal.

The game marked San Antonio's first loss on home ice and the first time the Rampage have been shutout since a March 18, 2009 contest vs. Peoria during the 2008-09 season. San Antonio fell to 6-2-1-0 while Hamilton improved to 5-0-1-1.

The Rampage will return to action tomorrow evening when they host their West Division and "Lone Star Faceoff" rival Houston Aeros on "Spurs Night" at 7 p.m. at the AT&T Center.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 23, 2009


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