
Rantanen's Hat Trick Lifts Rampage over Condors 5-2
January 23, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
San Antonio Rampage News Release
SAN ANTONIO - Mikko Rantanen tallied his first North American Professional hat trick to lead the San Antonio Rampage (18-18-7-0) over the Bakersfield Condors (16-16-2-2) 5-2 in front of 6,091 at the AT&T Center on Saturday night. Nikita Zadorov added two assists, and Colin Smith recorded a goal and an assist in San Antonio's second straight win over the Condors in as many nights.
Bakersfield got on the board first, marking the first time in the season series that the Rampage have not scored the opening goal. Dillon Simpson capitalized on a Rampage turnover in the neutral zone, skating in for an uncontested shot on Roman Will, and the Silver and Black trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes.
The Rampage got the equalizer late in the second stanza. Maxim Noreau collected a cross-ice pass from Colin Smith on the power play and fired a cannon past Laurent Brossoit at 14:09. San Antonio connected on the power play again less than three minutes later, as Zadorov found Rantanen streaking down the ice for a tally.
The Silver and Black extended their lead to two goals in the third period, as Rantanen caught Broissoit playing the puck behind the net, intercepted it and scored a wraparound goal to make it 3-1 at 12:19. San Antonio's 19-year old Finnish rookie completed the hat trick two minutes later with a backhand goal to give the Rampage a 4-1 lead.
Jujhar Khaira scored late in the frame to make it a 4-2 game, but that's as close as the Condors would get, and Smith potted an empty-net goal to seal a 5-2 victory for the Rampage.
The Rampage finished 2-for-7 on the power play while holding the Condors scoreless on four opportunities with the man advantage, the second night in a row San Antonio stifled the Bakersfield power play. Will made 37 saves on 29 shots, earning the Third Star of the Game.
Notes Rantanen's hat trick was the first of his North American professional career and the first Rampage hat trick since Joey Crabb netted three goals against the Utica Comets on Feb. 26, 2014. It also marks the 16th hat trick in franchise history.
Lineup Notes Zadorov, who was reassigned to the Rampage Saturday night, skated with Max Noreau as the Rampage's top defensive pair. Rantanen, Michael Schumacher and Colin Smith made up San Antonio's top line.
Up Next The Rampage wrap up a 3-in-3 weekend against the Texas Stars on Sunday, Jan. 24 at 4 p.m. at the AT&T Center. Season tickets for the 2016-17 campaign are on sale now. For more information, call a Rampage representative at 210-444-5554 or visit sarampage.com.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2016
- San Jose Barracuda Introduced Mascot Frenzy Before the Barracuda - San Jose Barracuda
- Griffins Blanked by Americans, 2-0 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Penguins Silence Pirates 5-0 - Portland Pirates
- Gulls Bow to Stars 5-2 in Texas - San Diego Gulls
- Rantanen's Hat Trick Lifts Rampage over Condors 5-2 - San Antonio Rampage
- Late Third-Period Goal Sinks Wild 1-0 - Iowa Wild
- Stars Shut Down San Diego for a 5-2 Win - Texas Stars
- Khaira Scores in Return, But Condors Unlucky in San Antonio - Bakersfield Condors
- Jarry Shuts out Pirates in Convincing 5-0 Win - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Falcons Power Past Providence in Overtime - Springfield Falcons
- Lieuwen Perfect as Amerks Complete Sweep of Griffins - Rochester Americans
- P-Bruins Force Overtime But Ultimately Fall to Falcons - Providence Bruins
- Crunch Rally Past Senators, 3-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- Checkers Snag Wild 6-5 Win over Wolves - Charlotte Checkers
- Wolves Can't Hold Lead in Charlotte - Chicago Wolves
- Toronto Marlies Post Game Notes - Toronto Marlies
- Albany Devils Fall Short against St. John's IceCaps - Albany Devils
- Comets and Marlies Combine for Five Power-Play Goals in Comets 4-2 Loss - Utica Comets
- IceCaps Double Devils 2-1 - St. John's IceCaps
- Mazanec Gets Shutout in Ads Win - Milwaukee Admirals
- Sunday's Bridgeport-Hershey Game Postponed - Bridgeport Islanders
- Sunday's Hershey Bears Game to be Rescheduled - Hershey Bears
- Monsters Blanked by Admirals, 1-0 - Cleveland Monsters
- Sunday's Bridgeport-Hershey American Hockey League Game Postponed - AHL
- Jets Re-Assign Lipon; Activate Stafford from IR - Manitoba Moose
- Crowne Plaza Syracuse to Hold 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Challenge Pre-Party February 1 - Syracuse Crunch
- AHL All-Stars Gudlevskis and Taormina to Hold Meet and Greet at Destiny USA January 25 - Syracuse Crunch
- Heat Host Manitoba on Teddy Bear Toss Night at 7:30 p.m. - Stockton Heat
- Wolf Pack's Game in Bridgeport Postponed - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Hartford-Bridgeport American Hockey League Game Postponed - AHL
- Panthers Reassign Olsen Back to Portland - Portland Pirates
- IceHogs Recall Carruth from Indy - Rockford IceHogs
- Condors Sign C Josh Currie to AHL Contract - Bakersfield Condors
- Sound Tigers Game on as Scheduled - Bridgeport Islanders
- Admirals Sign Leitner to PTO - Milwaukee Admirals
- Saturday's Game to be Played as Scheduled - Charlotte Checkers
- Iowa Recalls Goaltender Michalek - Iowa Wild
- Game Day: Albany Devils vs. St. John's Ice Caps, 2 pm - Albany Devils
- Ontario Reign Game Preview: Reign and Barracuda Rematch Tonight - Ontario Reign
- Manitoba Moose Post-Game Report - Manitoba at Stockton - January 22 - Manitoba Moose
- Wild Steal 4-3 Shootout Win from Hogs - Rockford IceHogs
- Goaltending Duel Ends in Shootout - Stockton Heat
- Reign Edge Barracuda in Overtime, 3-2 - Ontario Reign
- Reign Mount a 3-2 Comeback Win in Overtime Past Barracuda - San Jose Barracuda
- Nikita Zadorov Reassigned to Rampage - San Antonio Rampage
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent San Antonio Rampage Stories
- Jake Walman Named Rampage 2019-20 IOA/American Specialty Man of the Year
- Admirals Top Rampage with Third Period Outburst
- Ingram Leads Admirals to Shutout Win over Rampage
- Stars Defeat Chimuelos on Late Robertson Goal
- Comeback Effort Falls Short against Grand Rapids

