STOCKTON, Calif. – The Stockton Heat hosted the San Antonio Rampage for the first time this season leaving them with three of the four available points, following a disappointing shootout loss and an incredible last minute goal for the win in game two.
Friday night, San Antonio’s Alex Belzile scored their solo game of regulation at 7:05, when his shot beat Jon Gillies in the Stockton net. Newly arrived from a call up from Kanas City, Darren Nowick scored in the second period, where the teams remained knotted through the overtime period. Despite several prime opportunities for both teams, Spencer Martin and Gillies held strong in their respective nets. In the last two minutes of overtime action, Stockton had to kill a four-on-three penalty to save the loss.
San Antonio’s David Warsofsky (5) scores the game winning shootout goal past Heat goalie Jon Gillies – Photo by Jack Lima
In the three round shoot out, both Rocco Grimaldi and David Warsofsky beat Gillies, and both Spencer Foo and Rasmus Andersson’s shots were denied. The Rampage would get the extra point in the 2-1 shootout win.
San Antonio’s goalie Spencer Martin stops Spencer Foo’s shootout attempt – Photo by Jack Lima
On Saturday night, Stockton needed to be more aggressive and get more quality shots on the net.
Nowick scored the first goal of the night, when his shot from a behind the net pass at 3:38 beat Martin. Hunter Shinkaruk and Andersson were credited on the assists. Samual Blais scored his seventh goal of the season, at the midway point. Foo picked up a turnover late in the first period and scored on a one-timer to put the Heat up 2-1 after one.
San Antonio Rampages’s defenseman Duncan Siemens (15) and goalie Spencer Martin (30) look for a rebound – Photo by Jack Lima
Brett Findlay scored in the second period, followed just over a minute later by Belzile’s shot, keeping the Rampage within a single goal. The third period action led to the equalizer by Blais when his shot from the circle scored at 15:57.
Andersson’s shot through traffic with only 34 seconds remaining in regulation sends the Heat fans home with a 4-3 win over the Rampage.
Gillies made 36-saves in the victory and made 17 of those saves in the third period when the Heat were outshot 18-3.
Stockton is back on home ice this Wednesday, when they host the Tucson Roadrunners, in the hunt to climb back into the first place seat for the Pacific Division.
Darren Nowick blocks a shot during his Stockton Heat debut on Friday night – Photo by Jack Lima
Ryan Lomberg moves the puck up ice – Photo by Jack Lima
Rasmus Andersson celebrates his game winning goal late in the third period on Saturday – Photo by Jack Lima
Darren Nowick looks to control a pass during Saturday night action – Photo by Jack Lima
Rampage defenseman Mason Geertsen (2) reaches for the puck – Photo by Jack Lima
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