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AHL San Antonio Rampage

No Problems in Houston, Rampage win 6th Straight

April 10, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
San Antonio Rampage News Release


HOUSTON (April 10, 2009) - Chad Kolarik scored just 1:46 into overtime sending San Antonio past the Houston Aeros 3-2 to earn their sixth straight win in front of 11,391 fans at the Toyota Center on Friday.

With San Antonio on a five-game winning streak and Houston's playoff spot not secured, the I-10 rivals got set to start a three-game weekend series.

Rampage goalie Karl Goehring entered looking for his fourth straight win while Houston entered losers of three straight and Quad City nipping at their heels.

Goehring was razor sharp turning aside Houston's 11-5 first period shot advantage to secure a scoreless tie through 20 minutes.

In the second, San Antonio banged in the first goal of the night when rookie Kolarik scored 2:43 into the period for a 1-0 Rampage lead. Kolarik teamed up with fellow Michigan Wolverine Kevin Porter for a nifty give-and-go to deposit his 18th goal of the season past Aeros goalie Barry Brust.

Meanwhile, Goehring continued to close the door including a late Houston flurry. Brandon Rogers picked up a turnover in the Rampage zone only to get denied by the 5-8 netminder. Later, it was Krys Kolonos being denied on a breakaway as Goehring made a sprawled-out save and then turned aside Jesse Schultz rebound attempt with his right leg pad to keep San Antonio up 1-0 entering the third.

But Houston had 1:08 of power play time carried over from the second period and with just six seconds remaining on the man-advantage, Houston tied the game at one apiece. Kolanos' power-play tally was his team leading 27th goal of the season.

Houston continued to control the third period outshooting the Rampage 11-4 through 16 minutes. However, the game remained tied at one and an injury at the 53:50 mark forced Brust to the sideline.

Anton Khudobin came in relief but the second shot he faced found the back of the net to give San Antonio a 2-1 lead with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. Sean Zimmerman's shot got through traffic to give him his second career AHL goal.

A win or tie through regulation would secure a playoff spot for Houston, who led fifth place Quad City by a single point after the Flames came back from a two-goal deficit to beat Iowa in a shootout.

Houston got that tie with less than a minute remaining. The Aeros opened the cage and brought on an extra attacker, which allowed Kolanos to take the puck from behind the net for a backhand wraparound goal forcing overtime and sending Houston to the Calder Cup playoffs.

In sudden death, it was all San Antonio as the Rampage continued to pepper Khudobin early and often. Murray found Kolarik on the backdoor 1:46 into overtime for the game-winner and the sixth straight win for San Antonio.

San Antonio has won six straight to tie their franchise record and return home to face the Aeros on Saturday before closing out their season on Easter Sunday in Houston.

Joel Perrault's AHL leading five-game goal streak and team-leading nine-game points streak came to an end.

Two more wins and the Rampage can finish the season at .500 after beginning the year 2-20-0-1. A win tomorrow and San Antonio will finish above .500 at home after starting 2-11.

It's Fan Appreciation Night when the Rampage host the Aeros on Saturday, April 11th at the AT&T Center. Enjoy the festivities with prize giveaways and more this Saturday for the home finale.

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