AHL San Antonio Rampage

Rampage Fall 5-3 To IceHogs In Rockford

November 4, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
San Antonio Rampage News Release


ROCKFORD, Illinois (November 4, 2009) - After playing their last six games at home, the San Antonio Rampage fell to the Rockford IceHogs by a 5-3 score on Wednesday night at Rockford MetroCentre.

San Antonio, who entered the contest on a 152 minute goal-scoring drought and a four-game winless streak, hoped to find their scoring touch as a result of a change of scenery. Ironically, the IceHogs entered the game in an even more dire situation with a five-game winless streak in hand.

The IceHogs jumped out to an early lead less than four minutes into the game on an even-strength goal by Rockford left wing Rob Klinkhammer. IceHogs center Mark Cullen and defenseman Richard Petiot were credited with the assists on Klinkhammer's goal.

The Rampage evened the score at the 10:41 mark of the first on San Antonio right wing Chad Kolarik's fifth goal of the season. Following a dump-in by Rampage defenseman Shaun Heshka into the IceHogs zone, San Antonio center Kevin Porter grabbed the puck behind the net and connected with Rampage left wing Brett MacLean on a one-timer near the left hash mark. The puck then rebounded off Rockford netminder Corey Crawford's chest and trickled into the crease where Kolarik fired a quick shot off Crawford's leg pads. Kolarik then grabbed his own rebound and executed a nifty toe-drag move around the IceHogs goaltender before lifting a shot high inside the left post to tie the game at one goal apiece.

However, the tie did not last for long as Rockford right wing Akim Aliu beat Tordjman on a three-on-one odd-man rush at the 11:46 mark of the first. After carrying the puck into the right side of the San Antonio zone, IceHogs center Bracken Kearns worked a give-and-go with Rockford defenseman Daryl Boyle. Receiving the returning pass near the right faceoff circle, Kearns flipped a saucer pass over the stick of a Rampage defenseman to Aliu on the left post, where the right winger quickly found the back of the net to provide Rockford with a 2-1 lead.

Early in the second stanza, Rampage left wing Matt Beleskey was whistled for a tripping penalty and the IceHogs took full advantage of the extra skater. Working the puck around inside the San Antonio zone, Cullen found Klinkhammer in the right corner. Klinkhammer then fed a pass to Rockford left wing Bryan Bickell at the top of the right faceoff circle before Bickell beat Tordjman high to the glove side to increase the IceHog lead to 3-1.

Neither team was able to find the scoreboard in the third frame until Rampage center Kyle Turris beat Crawford with less than four minutes remaining in the contest. Turris intercepted a Rockford pass near the IceHogs blueline and beat Crawford high to the blocker side on a backhanded shot to close the deficit to 3-2. Matt Beleskey and Viktor Tikhonov were credited with assists on Turris' goal.

Rockford quickly regained its two-goal lead at the 18:03 mark of the third when Mark Cullen intercepted an attempted clearing pass by a Rampage defenseman behind the San Antonio net and beat Tordjman low to the stick side. IceHog right wing Jack Skille was credited with an assist on Cullen's goal.

Following Cullen's tally, San Antonio head coach Greg Ireland attempted to close the deficit once again by pulling Tordjman for an extra skater with less than three minutes remaining. Executing the ploy to perfection and taking advantage of the extra man, Rampage center Kevin Porter received a feed from Sean Sullivan near the right faceoff circle and beat Crawford high to the blocker side to pull San Antonio within one goal at the 8:48 mark of the third.

However, with Tordjman remaining on the San Antonio bench in exchange for a sixth skater, Rockford defenseman Jason Cullimore found the empty net from Rockford's blueline with 34 seconds remaining in the game to seal the 5-3 victory for the IceHogs.

Crawford made 30 saves on 33 San Antonio shots for the victory, while Tordjman turned away 26 of 30 Rockford shots in the loss. The loss extends a 0-4-1-0 winless streak for the Rampage and ends a five-game losing skid for the IceHogs.

San Antonio returns to action on Thursday night as they travel to Carver Arena at the Peoria Civic Center to take on the Peoria Rivermen in a 7 p.m. contest.

Check out the San Antonio Rampage Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2009


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