AHL San Antonio Rampage

Rampage set franchise record with 4-2 win over Peoria

Published on March 27, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
San Antonio Rampage News Release


SAN ANTONIO - Donning their road, black jerseys, the San Antonio Rampage snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 triumph over the Peoria Rivermen Wednesday night in a West Division showdown at the AT&T Center.

The Rampage (37-24-3-7, 84 points) stormed back into the third spot in the West with two goals from David Spina and three third-period goals to keep Peoria (35-27-4-5, 79 points) out of the playoff picture in the tightly-packed division.

The win was the 37th of the season for the Rampage, a number never before attained in the franchise's six-year history. It also pulled the club within two points of home-ice advantage in a potential playoff matchup with the Rockford IceHogs, presently the West's No. 2 seed.

After being outshot 17-6 by Peoria in the opening frame, mostly due to four Rivermen power-play chances, the Rampage entered the second period trailing 1-0.

The Rampage attempted 17 shots of their own in the second 20 minutes, while allowing just four, and finally broke through with Spina's first goal of the night.

Spina scored a slapshot from the top of the slot for the equalizer midway through the middle stanza, with assists from Mike Zigomanis and Chris Durno for the only goal of the period.

The Rampage came into tonight 29-5-1-4 when leading or tied after two periods, and with the game even at one apiece through 40 minutes they had to feel good about their chances heading into the final frame.

Spina would turn those feelings into reality, finding the net again two minutes into the third period to give the Rampage a lead they would never relinquish.

A racing Durno came through the neutral zone with the puck. As he streaked along the left side, Peoria goalie Ben Bishop came over to cut off Durno's angle. Instead, he fed a crisp pass through the slot to Spina, who notched his second goal of the night and 15th of the year, tying a career-high set last season in Springfield. Durno has eight points (five goals, three assists) in six games against Peoria this year, and leads the Rampage with 14 multiple-point games.

Bill Thomas gave the Rampage a comfortable two-goal cushion with his team-leading 23rd goal of the season, with another Zigomanis assist, as the clock trickled under four minutes.

Zigomanis tied a 2007-08 team-high with three points in the game, after adding an empty-netter with 2:31 remaining to push the lead to 4-1. Matt Murley assisted for the second time in the game for his 12th multi-point night this year. The Rampage reclaimed the league-lead with 88 third-period goals.

Peoria forward Chris Porter added his second marker of the night with 63 seconds to go.

Al Montoya won his 19th game of the season with 31 saves for the Rampage in his first contest against Peoria this year. Bishop stopped 33 of 36 shots in the loss.

The two face off again this weekend as the Rampage try to push Peoria further out of the playoff picture. Game-time is set for 7 p.m. Saturday night, and the Rampage will be honoring the local armed forces with special jerseys on Military Appreciation Night. A post-game auction will be held, with money raised being donated to local San Antonio military charities.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2008


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