AHL San Antonio Rampage

Rampage Regain Share Of Second Place With 3-2 Victory Over Rochester

Published on March 7, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
San Antonio Rampage News Release


SAN ANTONIO - Matt Murley's marker made the difference as the San Antonio Rampage completed another third-period comeback, this time a 3-2 triumph over the Rochester Americans Friday night in front of 5,087 AT&T Center crowd.

They regained a share of second place in the AHL West Division with the idle Rockford IceHogs.

With the Rampage trailing 2-0 late in the second period, Dylan Reese closed the gap with his first professional goal.

Reese intercepted a clear-out attempt by Rochester, maneuvered atop of the slot and found an opening with a wrister that ricocheted in off the crossbar with 5:37 left in the frame. It was the second time in as many games a Rampage player scored his first goal of the season. Pete Vandermeer netted the eventual game-winner Wednesday night with his first tally of the season in a 4-1 triumph over Providence, the top team in the American Hockey League. Every player on the opening night roster for the Rampage has scored a goal.

With the Rampage down 2-1 entering the third period, they were primed for what is becoming a patented third-period rally. Things are going so well in the last 20 minutes for the Rampage that even the lucky breaks are going their way.

Bill Thomas evened the score halfway through the final stanza with his team-leading 21st goal. He pushed a pass through the slot that bounced off defenseman Mike Weber's skate and deflected up and over goaltender Tyler Plante for the equalizer. The marker, his 34th with the Rampage, moved Thomas into a tie for fifth place all-time in team history for goals scored.

The Rampage took the lead with a connection that is becoming downright lethal.

Murley, who leads the team with 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists), one-timed the game-winner on a slick pass from Mike Zigomanis. It was the third straight game the duo has connected, with four goals accumulated by the tandem during that stretch. Thomas also assisted on the score for a two-point night.

The two third-period tallies give the Rampage 78 for the season, best in the American Hockey League. They have outscored teams by 20 goals in the final period.

Rochester jumped on the board first with a tally from the blue-line by defenseman Mike Funk 1:06 into the game.

Josh Tordjman kept Rochester at bay with several fabulous saves during the opening period, including two breakaways. The second was a nifty glove-save that Tordjman never gave up on to keep it a one-goal contest about midway through the first period. The second-year netminder made 26 saves on the night for his 20th victory of the season. It was the 17th time in Tordjman's last 20 games he limited the opposition to three goals or less (12-4-1-3). He is 11-2-0-3 since taking a 6-1 win Dec. 29 over division-rival Houston.

Rochester took a brief 2-0 lead with a goal from recently reassigned left wing Clarke MacArthur at the 7:22 mark of the second frame.

The Rampage equaled a season-high with their third-straight home victory and have taken points in 22 of the last 28 games (17-6-1-4).

The Rampage (34-17-3-7, 78 points) stand a franchise-record 17 games over the break-even mark and have already surpassed last season's win total of 32. They are just two shy of the franchise record for wins in a season.

The Rampage will look to take sole possession of the second spot Saturday night at 7 p.m. when they host the Hartford Wolf Pack. The lower bowl is already sold-out for tomorrow night's game, but upper bowl tickets can still be purchased for just $10. The Rampage will celebrate Kids' Night, with a variety of fun geared toward the little ones, and will don special jerseys to commemorate the occasion. A postgame auction will be held after the game, with a chance to take home your favorite players' jersey.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2008


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