AHL San Antonio Rampage

Rampage Salute Military in 3-2 Shootout Loss

Published on February 28, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
San Antonio Rampage News Release


SAN ANTONIO - In front of a franchise record crowd of 10,265 on Military Appreciation Night at the AT&T Center The Rampage erased a two goal third period deficit and emerged with a shootout point in a 3-2 shootout loss.

Rockford and San Antonio played a fast paced first period, but neither team was able to crack through in the first fifteen minutes. With just over four minutes remaining the IceHogs broke through when Petri Kontiola won the draw in the Rockford defensive zone and Tim Brent split two Rampage defenders to poke the puck ahead to Pascal Pelletier. Pelletier outraced the Rampage through the neutral zone and beat Rampage goalie Al Montoya with the backhander.

The IceHogs took a 1-0 lead into the second and extended it at the 11:42 mark. Montoya stopped a Brent one-timer from inside the blue line, but Kontiola picked up the loose puck, danced through the slot and sent a wrister top shelf past a sprawled-out Montoya for a power-play goal and 2-0 Rockford lead.

San Antonio, just 2-26-1-1 when trailing after two, opened up with the first goal of the third when defenseman Sean Sullivan scored during four-on-four hockey. David Schlemko's shot deflected off the right leg pad of IceHogs goalie Corey Crawford to Alexander Nikulin. Nikulin centered across the slot to Sullivan on the backside for his fourth goal in his last three games cutting the IceHogs lead to 2-1. Sullivan's goal 4:12 into the third period marked the third straight game he has tallied a score.

The IceHogs didn't get a shot on goal through the first fifteen minutes of the final frame while San Antonio continued to put an all-out assault on Crawford.

With just under two minutes remaining in regulation defenseman Jonas Ahnelov scored to tie the game at 2-2. Wyatt Smith centered to Ahnelov, who was cutting through the slot. Crawford blocked Ahnelov's initial shot, but the rookie scored on the rebound for his first goal of the season, sending the game into overtime.

After a scoreless overtime, the Rampage led off the shootout with Kyle Turris, Phoenix number three overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft. Turris kicked the puck off his own right skate then sent a wrister top shelf for a 1-0 lead.

Down 1-0, Rockford's Mike Radja beat Montoya stick-side, careening his shot off the left post knotting the shootout at one apiece.

Later, it was Brent again making an impact going five-hole giving the IceHogs a 2-1 lead. The Rampage, down to their last shooter, went with Joel Perrault who got stoned at the doorstep and Rockford closed out the win to stay in second place in the West Division.

Corey Crawford stopped 44 of 46 shots in 65 minutes, while Montoya denied 23 of 25 in a terrific goaltender duel.

This was San Antonio's first home shootout, second shootout in as many games and their third in their last four contests.

San Antonio gets the week off before returning to action next Saturday versus Grand Rapids. Rampage Head Coach Greg Ireland led the Griffins to the 05-06 Western Conference Finals

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American Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2009


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