Rampage Earn Shootout Win Over Peoria

PEORIA, ILL. (February 16, 2013) – Goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris made a career-high 49 saves and Zach Hamill scored two goals, as the San Antonio Rampage (22-23-1-4) defeated the Peoria Rivermen (22-21-4-3), 4-3, Saturday night at Carver Arena.

In addition to his 49 saves in regulation, Grumet-Morris stopped all four Peoria shooters in the shootout to help the Rampage earn the victory.  The Rampage netminder is now a perfect 6-0-0 against Peoria in his career.

The win improves San Antonio to 3-1-1-0 on the Rodeo Road Trip and the Rampage have picked up points in four out of the first five games on the trip. The victory was also San Antonio’s first in a shootout this season (1-0-0-4).
   
Andrew Murray opened the scoring for the Rivermen at 12:33 of the first period on the power play. Murray set up in front of the net was able to deflect the puck in off a centering pass from Cade Fairchild to give the Rivermen the lead.

Jared Gomes answered for San Antonio at 7:19 of the second off a Peoria turnover. John McFarland found Gomes who sent it past Rivermen goaltender Mike McKenna to tie the game at one.

The goal was Gomes’ eighth of the season and McFarland’s assist was his third point since returning from the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones on Jan. 18. Zach Miskovic also picked up an assist on the goal, marking his second point (two assists) in his first two games in the Silver and Black since being acquired from Chicago on Thursday.

The Rampage claimed their first lead of the game on the power play at 12:19 of the second period. Hamill deflected a point shot from Brian O’Hanley to give the Rampage their third power-play goal in their last seven attempts.

Peoria answered a minute and a half later, though, when a deflection off Derek Nesbitt found its way behind Grumet-Morris to make the score 2-2.

Hamill struck for his second of the night to again give San Antonio the lead at 8:54 of the third period when he received a pass from McFarland and wristed it past McKenna. The goal was Hamill’s third as a member of the Rampage and, along with his three assists, gives him six points in his six games since joining the Rampage

Nesbitt would answer again for the Rivermen off a two-on-one for his second goal of the night at 11:09 of the third period. Peoria was in control of the third period, outshooting San Antonio, 22-7, but Grumet-Morris stood strong between the pipes.

After a scoreless overtime, the game went to a shootout where Hamill scored once again along with Mike Santorelli, while Grumet-Morris stopped four straight to cap the win. 

The Rivermen outshot San Antonio, 52-29, and went 1-for-4 on the power play. San Antonio went 1-for-3 on the power play, marking the second straight game the club has scored on the man advantage.

The Rampage wrap up the Midwestern leg of their Rodeo Road Trip tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon at Chicago at 3:00 p.m. 

The Silver and Black will return to AT&T Center on Saturday, March 2 at 7:00 p.m. to host their annual Military Appreciation Night. Individual and season tickets 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.