Highlights:
AT&T Center – The San Antonio Rampage know the playoffs are out of reach, but that won’t stop them from playing hard until the final buzzer on the final day of the regular season. The Silver and Black used their grit to push for another home win on Friday night.
Borna Rendulic forced overtime as the Rampage earned a 4-3 shootout victory over the Wild in front of 8,865 fans at the AT&T Center to extend their home winning streak to six games.
After a scoreless first period, the Rampage found the back of the net in the second. Joey Hishon took the puck from Nick Drazenovic and put it into the open net at 6:16 to give San Antonio the one goal lead. Iowa answered back with five minutes remaining in the middle frame when Mario Lucia’s first goal of the season made it 1-1 after 40 minutes.
San Antonio took the lead back in the third period when Sam Henley put home a rebound off a Rendulic shot past Leland Irving just 1:06 into the frame to make it 2-1. Two goals in 42 seconds from Iowa defenseman Joe Finley gave the Wild their first lead of the night at the 5:42 mark. The Silver and Black called timeout and coach Dean Chynoweth drew up a perfect play. Dennis Everberg passed the puck to Rendulic, who buried it into the net to knot the score at 3-3 after regulation.
Nether team could find the back of the net in overtime, so a shootout would decide the winner. Reto Berra stopped all three shooters he faced and Ben Street converted on his attempt to give the Rampage the 4-3 win.
“To be able to put up a fight even though we’re out of a playoff spot is very important,” Chynoweth said after the game. You play for pride, for effort. Those are the things you have to find to put the effort forward.”
San Antonio was outshot 39-34 for the game, including 15-6 in the opening 20 minutes. Both teams were 0-for-2 on the power play.
Rendulic continued his scoring streak, tallying four goals in the previous four contests. He also had an assist.
“I feel like I’ve been playing the same game,” he said of his recent play. “It’s [the puck] going in now. From the earlier part of the season those opportunities, now it just goes in.”
The Rampage are now 31-34-8-0 (70 points, 0.479%) on the season and will return to the ice tomorrow night for a rematch with the Wild at 7 p.m. at the AT&T Center.
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