Highlights:
AT&T Center – The San Antonio Rampage looked solid for 56 out of 60 minutes. Unfortunately, the four minutes they relaxed cost them their first win of the season.
The Rampage started strong, but fell 4-2 to the Chicago Wolves in front of 5,121 fans at the AT&T Center on Saturday night.
“Guys worked hard, the power play moved the puck well again,” Rampage coach Eric Veilleux said. “Its just a matter of time. We were right in it until they had that power play goal, some things we control and others we don’t.”
San Antonio started strong, scoring before fans got settled into their seats. J.T. Compher lit the lamp just 52 seconds into the contest, beating Chicago goaltender Jordan Binnington after a Wolves turnover. The goal would stand as the lone tally of the opening frame.
Ryan Stanton extended the Rampage lead to two midway through the second period. His slapshot beat Binnington at 10:45 to put the home team up 2-0. Chicago responded late in the frame by lighting the lamp twice with goals from Ivan Barbashev and Wade Megan to head to third tied 2-2.
Chicago took the lead for good with a power play goal from Kenny Agostino at 14:31 of the final period. San Antonio took a timeout and pulled goaltender Jeremy Smith for an extra man to tie the game, but the move backfired. Megan sealed the 4-2 Chicago win with an empty net goal at 19:01.
“We knew we wanted to get a good start early,” Compher said. “I thought we outplayed them tonight, but got some bad bounces. That’s how hockey goes sometimes.”
San Antonio outshot Chicago 32-23 and held the Wolves to one power play goal on four attempts.
Up next: The Rampage are now 0-3-0-0 (0 points) on the season and will return to the ice tomorrow night when they welcome the Wolves to the AT&T Center at 3 p.m.
