AHL San Antonio Rampage

Rampage Beat Toronto 3-2 in OT

Published on March 22, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
San Antonio Rampage News Release


TORONTO (March 22, 2009) - Joel Perrault scored two goals, including the game winner 1:18 into overtime leading San Antonio to a 3-2 sudden death victory before 4,437 at Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.

Last year Toronto took the seven-game Western Conference first round matchup with San Antonio, but the Rampage answered with a 2-0 season sweep and made life tougher for the Marlies who are battling three teams for the final playoff spot in the North.

San Antonio struck first after Alex Foster's slashing penalty 1:01 into the game led to a Brett MacLean power-play goal at the 1:35 mark. For MacLean, it was his first goal in eight games. Perrault and David Spina registered assists staking the Rampage to a 1-0 early lead.

The Rampage continued to dominate the offensive end outshooting the Marlies 10-3 in the first period and with just under two and a half minutes left, the same threesome found the back of the net to put the Rampage up 2-0.

Joel Perrault recorded his tenth goal of the season with helpers from MacLean and Spina. For Spina, the Rampage all-time assists leader, it was his first points in six games - his longest points drought of the season. The Rampage are 18-4-2-2 when Spina registers at least one point.

San Antonio also entered 14-1 on the season when leading after a period but Toronto cut the lead in half when Tim Stapleton deposited his 22nd goal of the season with just over four minutes remaining in the second.

The Marlies applied more pressure in the second frame challenging Rampage goalie Al Montoya with 11 shots on goal. However, Montoya and the Rampage defense has been rock solid in winning two of their last three. Montoya, in particular has been stellar, posting a .955 save percentage while stopping 86-90 attempts.

But in the third, Toronto continued to attack the net and outshot the Rampage 12-4. And with forty two seconds remaining in regulation, the Marlies pulled goalie Justin Pogge before defenseman Jaime Sifers sent the game into overtime with his third goal of the season.

In overtime, however, Perrault did it again scoring 1:18 into sudden death to propel the Rampage to their second straight overtime victory. It was the third time this season that Perrault scored the game-winner in the extra session and his fourth game-winner this year.

Meanwhile, Montoya won his third game in his last four outings stopping 24-26 shots. Pogge took the loss allowing three goals in 21 attempts.

San Antonio continues their trek through the North Division with a game Tuesday in Hamilton. The Rampage then close the week with three straight games in three different cities. San Antonio goes to Cleveland on Thursday to face Lake Erie, travels to New York to battle Syracuse and then returns home for a Saturday night game with Rockford.

This Saturday, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders visit the Alamo City for a meet n' greet, dance clinic and two game-performances when the Rampage and IceHogs face off in a West Division showdown.

Check out the San Antonio Rampage Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2009


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