Stars Topple Rampage in 3-2 Road Win
Apr 14, 2015SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Jussi Rynnas stopped 32 shots in net and the Texas Stars killed off five of six power play chances to corral the San Antonio Rampage offense in a 3-2 win on Tuesday night at AT&T Center in front of 8,205 in attendance.
The Stars (38-22-13-1) jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the AHL’s highest scoring offense in the Rampage (45-22-6-1) responded with two in the third. Travis Morin and Brendan Ranford each finished with a goal and an assist for the Stars. It was the first win for Rynnas since March 14 after being sidelined with an injury.
The Stars and Rampage meet again in San Antonio on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Morin opened up the scoring early putting Texas in front just 1:32 into the opening frame on a rebound goal generated from Scott Valentine’s slap shot in the left circle.
In period two, Ranford made it a 2-0 lead for the Stars at 1:40, snapping a wrist shot past San Antonio’s Sam Brittain after driving through the left circle. Greg Rallo set up the play with a crossing feed to earn the assist and extend his team-high point streak to eight games. Midway through the period, Kevin Henderson added a third goal for the Stars when his shot from the slot was blocked, but banked off a Rampage player and in for his seventh of the season.
Brittain finished with 32 saves on the night in the loss for San Antonio.
The Rampage tried to mount a comeback with third period goals from Corban Knight and Garrett Wilson, but Rynnas and the Stars held strong despite being outshot 13-6 in the final period of play.
Texas finished 0-for-5 on the power play while the Rampage went 1-for-6. Wilson’s third period goal for the Rampage was their man-advantage tally.
Morin extended his point streak to seven games in the Texas win. The Stars maintained their hold over fifth place in the Western Conference, leading Oklahoma City by four points now.
The Texas Stars entered the 2014-15 season as the AHL’s defending Calder Cup Champions. Single-game tickets for the remainder of the 2014-15 season are on sale now, and fans can now place season ticket package deposits for the 2015-16 campaign. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStarsHockey.com.
Photo Credit: Darren Abate/San Antonio Rampage
| Three Stars: 1. Brendan Ranford (TEX) 2. Travis Morin (TEX) 3. Garrett Wilson |
Shots: Stars - 35 Rampage - 34 |
Goaltenders: W - Rynnas L - Brittain |