Rampage Fall To Houston, 2-1

SAN ANTONIO (November 23, 2012) – San Antonio Rampage forward Scott Timmins recorded a goal for the second-straight game and netminder Jacob Markstrom made 23 saves, but the Rampage (4-9-0-2) were defeated by the Houston Aeros, 2-1, tonight at the AT&T Center in front of 6,082 fans. The game was the first of a three-in-three home series this weekend at AT&T Center.

Houston (8-6-1-2) scored both of their goals while on the power play – the first of which came with a 5-on-3 man advantage. On the night, Houston went 2-for-6 on the power play to improve to 7-for-24 against the Rampage with the man advantage this season.

San Antonio got off to a quick start, recording 11 of the first 14 shots of the game. Defenseman Tyson Strachan rang a shot off the post five minutes into the period. But Houston rallied late in the frame and generated several high-quality scoring changes in the final minutes of the period. Markstrom stopped a three-shot flurry with just under two minutes to play to keep the game scoreless heading into the first intermission.

The Aeros started the second period with 1:32 of five-on-three power-play time, as the Rampage took two late penalties in the first period. Houston took advantage, as Jason Zucker received a back-door pass from Justin Fontaine and one-timed it past Markstrom 25 seconds into the second period with the two-man advantage.

San Antonio again outshot Houston in the second period, 10-5, but were unable to beat Aeros goaltender Matt Hackett and Houston held a 1-0 lead going into the final period of action.

Timmins put the Rampage on the board at 13:36 of the third period on only the club’s second shot of the frame. Timmins started the rush in the neutral zone before dumping off a pass to Greg Rallo. Rallo then found Jon Rheault at the left faceoff dot. Rheault, who has five goals and four assists in his last nine games, made a cross-crease pass to Timmins and the Rampage center banged home the pass.

Houston reclaimed the lead with a power-play goal at 17:47. Fontaine received a pass that split two Rampage defensemen and fired a shot that beat Markstrom high for his second point of the game.

San Antonio had a power play with 53 seconds remaining in regulation, but was unable to find the tying goal. On the night, the Rampage were outshot by the Aeros, 26-25, and went 0-for-4 on the power play. San Antonio is now winless in their last six games (0-5-0-1).

The Rampage will play the second game of the three-in-three weekend tomorrow (Saturday) against the Abbotsford Head at 7 p.m. at AT&T Center. The game will also mark the eighth annual Teddy Bear Toss, benefiting the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program. Fans who bring a new, unwrapped stuffed animal to the game will receive a voucher for a free order of nachos. The stuffed animals will be thrown onto the ice when the Rampage score their first goal of the game.

Individual, and season, tickets start at $10 and can be purchased at the AT&T Center Southeast Box Office, by calling a Rampage representative at 210-444-5554 or online at sarampage.com.