Texas got a strong start to an important final week of the season. Looking to solidify their playoff positioning and get into a winning groove as they make their way to the playoffs, the Stars dropped the division's top club, San Antonio, by a 3-2 score in the Alamo City.
Jussi Rynnas got the start and collected his first win since returning from injury. He stopped a total of 32 shots, including 11 in the final frame to retain the lead.
Travis Morin, familiar to the matchups between these two teams, scored the opening goal 92 seconds into the first. Brendan Ranford's initial shot rebounded straight to the stick of an uncovered Morin for the easy put-away. The Stars bombed Sam Brittain in the first period, outshooting the Rampage by a 15-6 margin.
Brendan Ranford picked up a tally just 100 seconds into the second period, as he snuck in alone to beat Brittain. The San Antonio defense just flat lost the second-year winger, and he made them pay for the 2-0 score. Kevin Henderson extended the Stars' lead to 3-0 off a bouncing shot that hit three defenders before slipping by Brittain.
Of course, the San Antonio Rampage would not go down quietly despite trailing 3-0 after forty minutes. Corban Knight broke up the shutout early in the third off the assist from John McFarland. Late in the period with Derek Meech in the box for hooking, the potent San Antonio power play notched one on the usually stalwart Stars' PK unit. Garrett Wilson found twine off a neat pass from NHL vet Dany Heatley.
The final minutes were robbed of much of their drama as San Antonio took two penalties to sap their chances at an equalizing goal.
Texas will play the Rampage twice more this season, once in San Antonio on Friday and Saturday at home, the season finale.
Tonight's lines:
Ranford-Morin-Rallo
McKenzie-Dowling-Ritchie
Stransky-Shore-Glennie
Henderson-Smith-Troock
Meech-Oleksiak
Mangene-Nemeth
Valentine-Honka
Rynnas
Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Fortunus, Bystrom, Hulak, Ully, Gaunce (scratch)
Faksa (injury)
Tonight's attendance was 8,205.
AHL Gamesheet - Texas at San Antonio - April 14 2015
Jussi Rynnas got the start and collected his first win since returning from injury. He stopped a total of 32 shots, including 11 in the final frame to retain the lead.
Travis Morin, familiar to the matchups between these two teams, scored the opening goal 92 seconds into the first. Brendan Ranford's initial shot rebounded straight to the stick of an uncovered Morin for the easy put-away. The Stars bombed Sam Brittain in the first period, outshooting the Rampage by a 15-6 margin.
Brendan Ranford picked up a tally just 100 seconds into the second period, as he snuck in alone to beat Brittain. The San Antonio defense just flat lost the second-year winger, and he made them pay for the 2-0 score. Kevin Henderson extended the Stars' lead to 3-0 off a bouncing shot that hit three defenders before slipping by Brittain.
Of course, the San Antonio Rampage would not go down quietly despite trailing 3-0 after forty minutes. Corban Knight broke up the shutout early in the third off the assist from John McFarland. Late in the period with Derek Meech in the box for hooking, the potent San Antonio power play notched one on the usually stalwart Stars' PK unit. Garrett Wilson found twine off a neat pass from NHL vet Dany Heatley.
The final minutes were robbed of much of their drama as San Antonio took two penalties to sap their chances at an equalizing goal.
Texas will play the Rampage twice more this season, once in San Antonio on Friday and Saturday at home, the season finale.
Tonight's lines:
Ranford-Morin-Rallo
McKenzie-Dowling-Ritchie
Stransky-Shore-Glennie
Henderson-Smith-Troock
Meech-Oleksiak
Mangene-Nemeth
Valentine-Honka
Rynnas
Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Fortunus, Bystrom, Hulak, Ully, Gaunce (scratch)
Faksa (injury)
Tonight's attendance was 8,205.
AHL Gamesheet - Texas at San Antonio - April 14 2015
I think this is a bigger series then the end results will show. I've always felt that momentum going into the playoffs is a huge deal (and worked against us in years 2 and 4). If Texas manages to sweep SA it may seem like something of little consequence to bystanders but it surely would be something both teams will bring into the post season.
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