AHL San Antonio Rampage

Rampage Conclude Trip with 5-4 Setback in Grand Rapids

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


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The San Antonio Rampage dropped a tough-luck, 5-4 decision in head coach Greg Ireland's return to Grand Rapids, where he manned the helm the past three seasons for the Griffins, Tuesday night at Van Andel Arena.

Despite the loss, the Rampage concluded their 14-game Rodeo Road Trip 7-3-1-3, and jumped a spot in the American Hockey League West Division standings, overtaking Peoria for third place.

It looked as if the Rampage (29-16-3-7, 68 points) would summon some more of the third period magic they've displayed this season when Matt Murley made it a one-goal game.

After Darren McCarty's goal early in the third made it 5-3, the Rampage charged hard and were finally rewarded when Murley scored to cut the Grand Rapids lead to 5-4. His tally gave the Rampage a league-high 69 third-period goals, where they hold a 13-goal advantage.

Though that was all they could muster tonight, the Rampage have earned points in 17 of the last 22 games, going 12-5-1-4, and remain just a win behind second-place Rockford. They picked up their franchise record 15th road win of the season, 4-2 Sunday at Quad City, and also set the longest road point-streak in team history with six straight from Dec. 27 to Jan. 31.

The Rampage netted the game's first goal on a sleek pass from Jon DiSalvatore back to a trailing Bill Thomas, who fired a quick blast from the bottom of the left circle by Adam Berkhoel for the early lead. His 18th goal created a three-way tie for most on the team, with Joey Tenute and Chris Durno sharing the distinction. It came on just the second shot of the game for the Rampage, at the 4:34 mark.

Right wing Carl Corazzini evened things up for Grand Rapids with a power-play goal at 13:28, but the Rampage quickly countered.

David Spina put the Rampage back on top with a spectacular goal as the opening 20 minutes came to an end. Spina picked up the loose puck while skating near the left goal-line and flicked the biscuit up and over Berkhoel with 46 seconds remaining in the period, for a 2-1 lead. Thomas assisted on the goal for a multiple-point night before the end of one period.

The Rampage hold a plus-10 goal differential in the first period, tied for third-best in AHL with Manitoba.

Defenseman Garrett Stafford slapped through Grand Rapids' second power-play score of the night 7:28 into the middle period, tying the score at 2-2.

The Rampage crept ahead again later in the period.

Grand Rapids tried to clear the puck, but the Rampage, on the man-advantage, kept it in the Griffins' zone. Durno grabbed his own rebound and swept the puck around Berkhoel for the 3-2 lead at 11:40. He recaptured the team lead with his 19th goal of the season.

Grand Rapids again potted the equalizer, coming from Mattias Ritola at 13:30, and grabbed a 4-3 lead when Francis Lemieux scored the Griffins' third goal of the second period. The marker brought David LeNeveu's night to a close with 13 saves.

Josh Tordjman, who made six of seven saves upon entering for the Rampage, has not lost a game in regulation that he started in seven straight contests, and 11 of 12 overall (8-1-0-3). He went 4-2-3 on the road trip.

Thomas is steadily moving up the San Antonio Rampage all-time ranks. In his 97th game with the Rampage, Thomas has the eighth-most points in team history (69), seventh-most assists (39), and is tied for the seventh-most goals (31). He also extended his assist and point streaks to three games.

Murley leads the club with 43 points, and with an assist on the left-winger's goal, Durno recorded his team-leading 12th multiple-point game. The Rampage have recorded a power-play tally in six straight games.

The Rampage return home to the AT&T Center when they host the expansion Lake Erie Monsters at 7 p.m. Friday night. From each ticket sold, $5 will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a foundation in search of a cure to breast cancer.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2008


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