Rampage Outshoot Marlies But Fall 4-1

TORONTO (December 21, 2012) – The San Antonio Rampage (10-17-0-3) held the Toronto Marlies (16-9-1-1) to just 16 shots goal, but the Marlies made the most of their chances and defeated the Rampage, 4-1, Friday night at Ricoh Coliseum.

Ontario native Jared Gomes scored for the Silver & Black, while Jacob Markstrom made 11 saves off 15 shots in the loss. The win was Toronto’s ninth at Ricoh Coliseum giving them the best home record in the AHL (9-2-0-1). The Rampage outshot their opponent for the second straight game but took the loss, upping their winless streak to six games (0-6-0-0).

Gomes, a native of Brampton, Ontario, opened the scoring at 6:14 of the first period. James Wright started the sequence when he forced a Marlies turnover that got the puck to Quinton Howden, who found Gomes open to finish the play. The goal was Gomes’ fifth of the season and his third point in his last five games.

Toronto answered at 17:43 of the first period when Ryan Hamilton forced his way behind the Rampage defense giving him a partial breakaway. Hamilton deked and shot it past Markstrom to make it 1-1. The goal was Hamilton’s 75th in a Marlies uniform, a new franchise record.

The Rampage controlled the play through most of the second period, putting a lot of pressure on Toronto’s side of the ice and limiting them to just one shot in the first nine minutes of the frame. San Antonio outshot the Marlies 13-3 in the period – the fewest shots against in a frame this season – but Toronto was able to capitalize on their few opportunities.

Carter Ashton rushed in on a two-on-one after the Marlies won a faceoff in the neutral zone and beat Markstrom at 9:16 of the second period.  Mike Kostka struck again for Toronto on just their third shot of the frame at 17:28 courtesy of a nice feed from Hamilton that found him in the high slot to make it 3-1.

San Antonio won the shot battle, 31-16, in the game but went 0-for-5 on the power play. Toronto scored on the man advantage with less than two minutes remaining to end the night 1-for-5. 

The Herd will now take a short drive south to face the Hamilton Bulldogs on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT before the Holiday break. They will finish the road trip in Oklahoma City on Dec. 28th before returning to the AT&T Center Saturday, Dec. 29th to face the Houston Aeros at 7:00 p.m.

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.