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AHL San Antonio Rampage

Pass the Torch, Rampage Stone Wolves

December 19, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
San Antonio Rampage News Release


SAN ANTONIO (December 19, 2008) - Goalie Josh Tordjman broke the franchise record for career wins and the Rampage rode a four point night from David Spina to end a two-game skid at the hands of Chicago beating the Wolves 5-3 Friday night at the AT&T Center.

All 5,493 in attendance were treated to the Rampage's biggest goal outburst since a 5-1 win over Iowa on October 25th. Spina's four point effort is a team-high this season.

San Antonio got it going early with a power play chance before a single second ticked off the clock as Wolves forward Colin Stuart was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Rampage didn't waste the opportunity when Spina found defenseman Sean Sullivan backdoor for a power-play goal and 1-0 lead just 1:10 into the game.

Just a 1:18 later, the Rampage took a 2-0 lead when Alexander Nikulin found the net for the fourth time this season. Spina, from behind the net, found Brett MacLean before Nikulin potted the rebound.

Chicago cut the lead in half on their first power play chance of the night when Wolves leading scorer Joe Motzko went backdoor to find Jeff Hamilton to cut the lead to 2-1 at the 5:01 mark.

After the teams combined to score three goals in five minutes, physical play and defense took over with the game remaining 2-1 until late in the second period when Spina scored his third goal of the season after flurry activity around Wolves' goalie Brent Krahn. Spina poked his third of the season by the former Rampage goalie for a 3-1 lead with 1:35 left in the period.

In the third, San Antonio extended to a 4-1 lead when Nikulin beat Krahn for his second goal of the game at 13:14.

Chicago would rally, however, when a turnover in front of the crease got backhanded past Tordjman, who never saw the puck. Chicago's leading scorer, Joe Motzko, netted his 17th of the season to cut the Rampage lead to 4-2. The Wolves would creep closer when Tordjman mishandled the puck and Brett Sterling popped it in to make it 4-3 with thirty-two seconds in regulation.

Looking for the tie, Rampage center Joel Perrault blunted the Wolves with a spinning backhand from his own blue line into the empty net, the first by the Rampage this season, to close the door on San Antonio's 5-3 win.

Krahn, who had held San Antonio to a goal in each of his previous wins, was looking to win three straight games against his former club, but was beaten for four goals on 23 shots. Tordjman stopped 21 of 24 shots to get the win, his seventh in his last eight starts. He has won 45 games in his Rampage career to move past Travis Scott into first place.

San Antonio will hit the road next week for three games in four nights beginning in Houston the day after Christmas. The Rampage return to the AT&T Center for a New Year's Day game with a matinee start time of 3 p.m.

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