Down two games to none in the best-of-five series, the Wolves played like a team with their backs against a wall. The Rampage had to face the evening without starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who was earlier called up to New Jersey to join the Panthers, leaving Evanston, IL-born Dov Grumet-Morris to start against Chicago for the first time in four seasons. Recap after the jump…
The first period was a bad one for San Antonio, who were outshot 11-4. The Wolves scored their first goal 12 minutes into the game, with forward Jordan Schroeder scoring his first postseason goal off a Rampage defender.
The Wolves would score again with 55 seconds remaining in the period, when forward Darren Haydar scored his first of two on the night, and his second of the postseason, off a deflected shot from forward Mark Mancari.
The Rampage got off to another slow start in the second period, taking nearly ten minutes to register one shot on net. 16 minutes into the period, they finally cut the Chicago lead to one with Alexander Petrovic’s first career AHL goal, a one-timer from Evan Barlow on the powerplay. Jon Matsumoto tied Brendan Bell’s franchise record in playoff scoring with an assist on the play.
Haydar’s second goal of the night found an empty net with 48 seconds remaining in the game. The Rampage, with just two seconds left, again cut the lead to one with Bracken Kearns‘ second playoff goal of the postseason.
- Notables F Drew Shore and D Colby Robak each finished the night without a point but collected 1 SOG. Matsumoto leads San Antonio postseason scoring with 3 goals and 4 assists in three games. Newly-signed Panthers prospect Vincent Trocheck was a scratch, as was former Florida forward Steven Reinprecht by Chicago. The Rampage were 1-for-5 on the powerplay, 4-for-4 on the kill. (Full gamesheet)
Postgame comments from SA forward Bill Thomas (via Rampage)
Next up: Game Four tonight from Allstate Arena/Chicago, 8 p.m. ET (KTRK 760 AM)