Stars Tripped Up by Rampage, 7-3
Dec 26, 2014BOXSCORE
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - A three-goal first period propelled the San Antonio Rampage to a 7-3 win on Friday night over the Texas Stars at AT&T Center.
The Stars outshot the Rampage 36-19 on the night, but San Antonio goaltender Dan Ellis continued to be a mark of frustration with a 33-save performance for the win. Gemel Smith scored his first career pro goal. Jussi Rynnas took his first regulation loss in net for Texas since Halloween.
Texas (11-10-8-0) continues their three-game weekend on Saturday, when they host Charlotte at 7 p.m. at Cedar Park Center.
Rocco Grimaldi led all skaters with five points for the Rampage (17-9-2-0) on a goal and four assists. The San Antonio forward opened up the scoring at 7:16 of the first with a backhand shot that bounced off Stars defenseman Jamie Oleksiak and past Rynnas. Steve Kampfer then added another for San Antonio late in the opening frame at 16:13 and Logan Shaw tallied another just over two minutes later to make it 3-0, Rampage.
The Stars found the scoresheet at 6:28 of the second when Smith shifted his way through the left circle and snapped home his first career goal to cut the deficit to two. Drew Shore responded for the Rampage just over a minute later to regain the three-goal lead, and Garrett Wilson extended things with just three minutes to play in the frame.
Both teams traded goals in the third as Matej Stransky pulled the Stars back at 5:37 off a crossing pass by Derek Hulak from the left circle. Wilson added another for San Antonio midway through, but Scott Glennie buried a rebound goal at 14:36 to give the Stars late life. Texas pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker late, but Shaw tallied the empty net goal for San Antonio to seal the win.
Jack Campbell came on in relief of Rynnas late in the first period, and finished 10-of-13 in net for Texas.
The Stars went 0-for-4 on the power play much to the efforts of Ellis -- who stopped several good looks by Texas throughout the second period on the man-advantage, including a sprawling glove save on his stomach.
Texas held San Antonio scoreless in their only man-advantage chance.
Photo by: Darren Abate
| Three Stars: 1. Rocco Grimaldi (SA) 2. Dan Ellis (SA) 3. Garrett Wilson (SA) |
Shots: Stars - 36 Rampage - 19 |
Goaltenders: W - Ellis L - Rynnas |