The San Antonio Rampage dropped a key game to the Oklahoma City Barons, who took over first place in the West Division this week, but quickly bounced back with a shootout win over the Iowa Wild.
Stars 4, Rampage 3 (OT)
After beating the Texas Stars on Friday, the Barons slipped by the Rampage 4-3 in overtime on Saturday to end San Antonio’s seven-game winning streak. The Silver and Black got off to good start, taking a 2-0 lead in the first period on even-strength goals from Drew Shore and Logan Shaw. Connor Brickley and Mackenzie Weegar got the assists on the Shore goal, while Brett Olson and Bobby Butler set up the Shaw tally. The Barons countered with a Brad Hunt marker, before San Antonio’s Mark Mancari capped off the busy period to make it 3-1 Rampage. Brickley and Shore drew the helpers on Mancari’s fourth of the season. After a scoreless second period, Oklahoma City tied the tilt in the third with the goals going to Tyler Pitlick and Matthew Ford. Jordan Oesterle would beat Michael Houser at 6:12 of the extra frame to give OKC the bonus point. Laurent Brossoit stopped 27 shots to post the win, while Houser finished with 34 saves.
Rampage 5. Wild 4 (SO)
The Rampage got right back at it a day later and came away with a 5-4 shootout win over the visiting Iowa Wild. Jordan Schroeder scored the only goal of the first period to give Iowa a 1-0 lead. Drew Shore tied the game, from Mark Mancari and Rocco Grimaldi, early in the second period. Mancari notched a power-play marker six minutes later to put San Antonio ahead 2-1. Alex Petrovic and Shore picked up helpers on the goal. The Wild evened the game on a Mathew Dumba tally. Bobby Butler notched his tenth of the season, with San Antonio on another power play, from Mackenzie Weegar and Steven Kampfer, to put the Silver and Black back on top. Iowa’s Tyler Graovac would tie the game again before the end of the middle frame. Jason Gregoire gave the Wild the lead early in third before Ryan Martindale evened things up for San Antonio. Defenseman Greg Zanon drew the only helper on Martindale’s game-tying goal. Butler and Mancari scored in the shootout to offset Zack Phillips‘ first round tally for Iowa, with the winner going to Mancari. Michael Houser made 36 stops to get the win, while Josh Harding finished with 50 saves in a fine effort.
The Silver and Black (13-6-1-0) continue the homestand with a game against the Utica Comets tonight. They will host the Chicago Wolves on Sunday and Tuesday.
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