Stars Move into a Playoff Spot after Dropping Rampage 5-2
Feb 5, 2015SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- In his 500th career AHL game, Greg Rallo buried the game-winner on the power play against his former team as the Texas Stars dropped the San Antonio Rampage in a 5-2 win on Thursday night at AT&T Center in front of 5,491.
With the win, the Stars (20-15-10-1) take over control of the eighth and final playoff spot in the AHL's Western Conference, passing Chicago and Hamilton. Brendan Ranford led all skaters with a three-point night on a goal and two assists, and the Stars extended their unbeaten streak to six games going 4-0-1-1 in that stretch. It was also a milestone night for Texas defenseman Derek Meech, who appeared in the 600th game of his pro career.
The Stars return home on Sunday to host Okahoma City at 5 p.m.
Rallo's game-winner came at 5:17 of third with a one-time blast from the top of the slot for his 12th of the year and his team-leading sixth power play goal. Travis Morin picked up the assist on a feed from the right wing boards. Jamie Oleksiak padded the Stars lead on an odd-man rush at 13:21 of the period, beating San Antonio's Michael Houser from the right circle to make it 4-2. Ranford added an empty-net goal in the closing seconds to seal the Stars first road win against the Rampage (26-15-4-0) this season.
San Antonio opened the scoring with a goal from Mark Mancari 3:28 into the first. After that, Anders Lindback put in another stellar goaltending performance to keep the deficit at 1, stopping 13 of 14 shots in the period -- including two breakaways.
Texas responded late in period two as Matej Stransky finished off a counter-attack play with Ranford feeding Morin on a cross-ice pass, who then touched it in front for the second-year forward to deflect in for his fourth of the season. Two minutes later, Julius Honka sprung Texas in front on a wrist shot from the slot to make it a 2-1 game.
San Antonio's Garrett Wilson deflected in a goal at 2:13 of the third to tie things at 2, before Rallo's game-winner ignited the Stars offense.
Lindback earned his fourth win of the year for the Stars stopping 30 of 32 shots. Houser took the loss for San Antonio, stopping 24.
The Texas specials teams units stayed hot going 1-for-4 on the power play and killing off all four Rampage chances.
Photo Credit: Darren Abate
| Three Stars: 1. Greg Rallo (TEX) 2. Matej Stransky (TEX) 3. Brendan Ranford (TEX) |
Shots: Stars - 29 Rampage - 32 |
Goaltenders: W - Lindback L - Houser |