The Oklahoma City Barons used a potent power play (3 for 6) performance to overcome a three-goal deficit and stun the San Antonio Rampage 4-3 in overtime at Cox Convention Center last night. The win gave the Barons a two games to none lead in the best-of-five series.
San Antonio took the lead at 9:16 of the opening period on a goal from Connor Brickley. The even-strength marker was assisted by Mark Mancari and Brett Olson.
The Silver and Black went up by two 3:18 later when Corban Knight lit the lamp with the Rampage on a power play. Brickley combined with Jesse Blacker on the assists to pick up his second point of the period.
John McFarland scored at 6:44 of the second stanza to send Barons starter, and game one winner, Laurent Brossoit to the bench. Alex Petrovic drew the only helper on McFarland’s goal.
Oklahoma City finally got on the board with 2:33 left in the middle frame. Ryan Hamilton got the goal, with Vincent Trocheck serving a tripping minor. Andrew Miller and Joshua Winquist picked up the helpers on Hamilton’s second of the series.
San Antonio goaltender Michael Houser held the determined Barons at bay until Jordan Oesterle scored with 3:17 left in the game, from C.J. Stretch and Matthew Ford. A delay of game call on McFarland helped set up the goal.
Ford sent the game to overtime when he notched his second of the series with 36 seconds left in regulation time. The game-tying goal was assisted by Jason Williams and Brad Hunt and came with Mancari in the sin bin for tripping.
After outshooting the Rampage 16-9 in third, the Barons took the only three shots of overtime, winning the game on Connor Jones goal at 4:01. Ford and Oesterle combined to set up the deciding goal, giving Oklahoma City a stranglehold on the series.
Richard Bachman stopped all 16 shots he faced in relief to get the win while Houser finished with 35 saves. Veteran Rampage defenseman Shane O’Brien missed the game due to a one-game suspension for a boarding incident in game one.
Game three is Wednesday night in San Antonio at 8 p.m. EST. You can listen on The Ticket 760 or watch it by subscribing to AHLLive.
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