Amerks Get Rampaged
By: Thad Brown
Updated: February 12, 2012
A two-goal effort from former Amerk Michal Repik and strong goaltending
by Dov
Grumet-Morris paved the way for the San Antonio Rampage to defeat the
Rochester Americans by a score of 4-1 on Saturday night at The Blue
Cross Arena in front of 5,781 fans.
Repik and Thomas combined for two goals over a span of just 2:45 in the second to give San Antonio a 3-1 advantage. First, Repik finished off a two-on-one rush with a wrister from just inside the right face-off circle at 12:45. Thomas then drove the left post and buried a cross-ice pass from Mike Vernace into the vacant side of the net at 15:15.
TJ
Brennan produced the lone goal for Rochester in his first action since
January 14, with the assists going to Paul Szczechura and Drew
Schiestel. The assist represented Szczechura's
second point in as many games and ninth point in the last seven outings
(5+4). David Leggio finished with 22 saves between the pipes in the
loss.
Repik's
performance earned him first star honors in his return to Rochester,
while Grumet-Morris turned away 25 of 26 shots in his 17th
straight start for the Rampage. James Wright contributed a goal and an
assist and another former Amerk, Bill Thomas, also scored.
Luke
Adam, who was assigned to Rochester by the Buffalo Sabres earlier in
the day, made his Amerks debut tonight and said that he is eager to make
an impact.
"This team is in the heat of a playoff run and I'm excited to help them go in the right direction," he said after the game.
The
Rampage struck first with the man-advantage at 14:19 of the opening
period when Wright netted his eighth of the season. After Mark Cullen's
initial screen-shot from the
right circle was denied by Leggio, Wright corralled the loose puck and
jammed the rebound behind Leggio.
Brennan
answered back for Rochester to even things up at once apiece 8:02 into
the middle frame. The 22-year-old blueliner sent a blistering one-timed
slapper from center point
over the glove of the San Antonio goaltender.
Repik and Thomas combined for two goals over a span of just 2:45 in the second to give San Antonio a 3-1 advantage. First, Repik finished off a two-on-one rush with a wrister from just inside the right face-off circle at 12:45. Thomas then drove the left post and buried a cross-ice pass from Mike Vernace into the vacant side of the net at 15:15.
Repik
tallied his second of the night to cap-off a three goal period for the
Rampage and extend their lead to 4-1 on the power-play with just 1:04 to
go. The Vlasim,
Czech Republic native deposited a loose rebound that rattled around in
the crease before he was able to put the puck over Leggio's pad.
The
Amerks return to action on Friday, February 17 as they host the North
Division rival Lake Erie Monsters in the first leg of a home-and-home
series at The Blue Cross Arena.
