HIGHLIGHTS:
SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Rampage continued their hot streak with a 3-1 win over the San Jose Barracuda in front of 5,742 fans at the AT&T Center on Friday night.
The win was the fifth straight for the Silver and Black and six out of seven games overall. The victory moves San Antonio into a tie with the Providence Bruins for the second best record in the American Hockey League.
San Antonio goaltender Villo Husso earned his second win of the season, stopping 38 shots in the game. None bigger than three big stops near the net with San Jose looking to get the equalizer in the third period.
“He kept us in the game early on and also in that third period,” Rampage Head Coach Eric Veilleux said of Husso. “He made some huge key saves, we owe him one. That’s for sure.”
San Antonio opened the scoring in the first period when they capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play opportunity. Rocco Grimaldi picked up Samuel Blais’ scoring chance and beat Barracuda net minder Antoine Bibeau at the 6:44 mark. The goal would stand going into the second period.
The middle 20 minutes remained scoreless until seven minutes remaining in the period, that saw two goals in the span of 13 seconds. San Jose tied the game at the 13 minute mark when Daniel O’Regan put home a rebound past Husso, but San Antonio answered back seconds later with Felix Girard’s second of the year, putting the Rampage up 2-1 going into the third period.
The game remained scoreless in the final frame despite San Jose outshooting San Antonio 10-6 in the period. Duncan Seimens’ empty net goal sealed the 3-1 win for the Rampage, sending the fans home happy.
Husso was given First Star of the Night honors, stopping 38 of 39 shots he faced in 59 minutes played.
“I think its good the opponents shoot a lot at the beginning of the game,” Husso said. “I get a good feeling good on. It was a good game with lots of shots, so I had a good feeling there.”
Three Stars:
- Ville Husso (SA): Saves: 38, Shots: 39, Time on ice: 59:33
- Rocco Grimaldi (SA): 1 goal, 1 assist
- Felix Girard (SA): 1 goal
- Game notes: The Rampage won their fifth straight game with Friday’s 3-1 win over the Barracuda. San Antonio’s 6-1 start is their best since 2014, where they started 7-2. San Antonio’s five game winning streak is their longest since March 20-April 1 in 2016.
Up next: The Rampage are now 6-1-0-0 (12 points) on the season and will return to the ice tomorrow night when they welcome the San Diego Gulls to the AT&T Center at 7 p.m.
