OKC Rallies to Win OT Thriller

April 26, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Oklahoma City Barons News Release


The Oklahoma City Barons scored three goals in the final seven minutes of play to rally from an early three-goal deficit and defeat the San Antonio Rampage 4-3 in overtime of Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs Saturday night at the Cox Convention Center.

With 5:00 left in the third period and San Antonio holding a 3-1 lead, the Rampage's John McFarland was whistled for a delay of game penalty after lifting the puck over the glass from the defensive zone, putting the Barons on their fifth power play chance of the game. One minute, forty-three seconds later, Oklahoma City's C.J. Stretch found Jordan Oesterle in the Rampage slot, where Oesterle wristed a shot past San Antonio goalie Michael Houser to cut the Rampage's lead to 3-2 with 3:17 left in the third.

A tripping penalty to San Antonio's Mark Mancari at 19:19 of the third set up a faceoff in the Rampage zone that Oklahoma City's Matt Ford won. Moments later, Brad Hunt sent a cross-ice pass to Jason Williams, who fired a shot on net that deflected off Ford's stick and through the pads of Houser to tie the game with 36 seconds left in regulation.

Four minutes into the overtime period, Ford wrestled a loose puck away from the left boards and centered a pass to Connor Jones, who flipped a shot past Houser for the game's winning score.

Saturday's game marked the fourth time in history the Barons and Rampage have squared off in the Calder Cup Playoffs, with the Barons winning all four games.

San Antonio grabbed a 1-0 lead at 9:16 of the first period when Mancari sent a turnaround shot from the right boards that glanced off the stick of Connor Brickley and past Barons starting goaltender Laurent Brossoit.

Corban Knight gave the Rampage a 2-0 lead at 12:34 of the first when he grabbed a Brickley pass near a vacated left side of the Barons net and lifted a shot over the outstretched stick of Brossoit.

The Rampage upped their lead to 3-0 at 6:44 of the second period when a pass from Alex Petrovic sprung John McFarland, who beat Brossoit on a breakaway attempt.

Following McFarland's goal, Richard Bachman replaced Brossoit in goal for Oklahoma City and saved all 16 shots he faced over the game's final 37:12 to earn the win.

The Barons cut San Antonio's lead to 3-1 on the power play at 17:27 of the second period when Ryan Hamilton corralled the rebound of an Andrew Miller shot and flipped the puck over Houser's glove for his second goal in as many games.

Three of Oklahoma City's goals came on six power play chances. For the series, the Barons are 5-for-11 with the man advantage.

Game Three of the best-of-five series is 7 p.m. start on Wednesday, April 29, at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.



American Hockey League Stories from April 26, 2015


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