AHL San Antonio Rampage

Rampage Turnover Leafs 5-3

Published on January 19, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
San Antonio Rampage News Release


SAN ANTONIO (January 19, 2009) - David Spina scored the first and last goal of the night, Wyatt Smith sandwiched a couple power-play goals in between and Joel Perrault scored the game winner as San Antonio won a wild one, 5-3, Monday night against Toronto at the AT&T Center. The Rampage have won 16 of their last 22.

After both teams seemingly took the first period off, the Rampage and Marlies put on quite a show the rest of the way and San Antonio exacted a small measure of revenge in a rematch of last year's Western Conference first round playoff loss.

Early in the second Perrault centered a backhand pass from behind the net to Spina in the slot who snapped the puck high glove side into the net for a 1-0 Rampage lead just 1:46 into the second period. It was the 10th of the season for Spina.

Toronto tied it up three minutes later when Bates Battaglia beat Josh Tordjman five-hole. Ben Ondrus found Battaglia between the circles who netted his 9th goal of the season for a 1-1 game.

San Antonio then answered on their first power play chance of the night. Alexander Nikulin picked up the puck along the left wall, skated around the net and centered to the slot, finding Smith backdoor for a 2-1 Rampage lead at the 8:11 mark.

Two and a half minutes later things got really wild when all ten skaters found themselves behind the Rampage net. Garth Murray and Ben Ondrus dropped the gloves and squared off at center ice in a spirited scrap.

Later in the second Smith cashed in his second power-play goal of the night beating Pogge through the five-hole for a 3-1 Rampage lead with 1:42 left in the second frame.

Things got tighter in the third when Robbie Earl scored unassisted with a wrist shot from the top of the right circle beating Tordjman stick-side 3:44 into the period to make it a 3-2 game.

Then at 5:59, Perrault came right back leading a two-on-one break and beat Pogge high stick-side to extend the lead to 4-2. Toronto wasn't done, however, when Earl found Mark Bell at the doorstep and his 10th goal of the season to cut the lead to 4-3.

Late in regulation Tordjman made a huge save going post-to-post, left to right and stopping Marlies forward Brent Aubin with his right leg pad to keep San Antonio in front.

Both goaltenders were under siege in the third period facing 36 shots total. But it was the 37th shot on an empty net that sealed the deal. Dylan Reese feathered ahead to Spina, who poked the puck into an empty net for his second tally of the game and a 5-3 Rampage win.

San Antonio is 5-0-0-2 lifetime against the Marlies in the regular season and the win moves Tordjman to 16-15-1 on the year.

The win is the second straight at home for San Antonio who hosts Lake Erie on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in a rematch of a 6-2 New Year's Day Rampage celebration.

Wednesday is also $1 Hot Dog Night courtesy of KZEP 104.5 FM.

SINGLE GAME TICKETS

For Rampage single game ticket information, please call 210.444.5554 or visit www.sarampage.com.

Individual tickets range in price from $9.50 to $40 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster Ticket Center locations, charge by phone at (210) 225-TEAM, online at ticketmaster.com or sarampage.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the AT&T Center Southeast Box Office from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and starting at 10 a.m. on weekend event days.

Check out the San Antonio Rampage Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2009


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