CLEVELAND, OH – The San Antonio Rampage (2-4-0-0) continued their short road stint collecting a 4-2 victory over the Cleveland Monsters (2-4-1-0) in the Quicken Loans Arena. A.J. Greer’s scoring streak continues, netting a goal and an assist in tonight’s contest earning him the First Star of the Game. 
The game began quietly, with neither team seeing a goal in the first 15 minutes of the stanza. The Silver and Black notched the first goal of the contest with just over four mintues remaining in regulation. J.T. Compher was able to snag a dropped pass from Rocco Grimaldi and A.J. Greer in between the circles, driving the puck over the top right shoulder of Monster’s goaltender, Anton Forsberg. Just two and a half minutes later, San Antonio increased their lead when A.J. Greer netted a pass from Grimaldi from behind the pipes, giving each skater two points for the night and the Rampage a 2-0 lead over the Monsters. Cleveland would not be shut out in the first, as Cody Goloubef netted an outside look from Alex Broadhurst and Daniel Zaar with a minute remaining to cut San Antonio’s lead to one. Both teams left the ice with Rampage ahead 2-1.
San Antonio didn’t waste any time getting started, collecting an early goal just shy of two minutes into the second period. The point came from a deflected shot by Troy Bourke off of Forsberg’s pad, giving Alex Belzile an opportunity to collect the loose puck and launch it into the right side of the pipes, netting his first goal of the 2016-17 campaign. Rampage goalie, Spencer Martin, was able to close out the period without a Monster point, denying all eight of Cleveland’s shots on goal in the second.
The Monsters were quick to score in the third, when Oliver Bjorkstrand netted a pass from Nick Moutrey and Goloubef less than a minute into the stanza, limiting San Antonio’s lead to 1 for the second time of the game. In a last chance attempt to tie the contest, Cleveland pulled Forsberg with two minutes left in regulation. With a two-man advantage, the Monsters were unable to convert on the power play, turning over the puck. Gary Nunn was able to capitalize on the mistake, netting an empty net and shorthanded goal to solidify San Antonio’s 4-2 victory over the defending Calder Cup champions.
Martin finished the game with 30 saves on 32 shots, while the Rampage penalty kill unit stopped all but one of Cleveland’s opportunities with the man advantage.
Notes
Greer and Grimaldi continue to battle to claim the title of leading scorer for the Silver and Black, each netting two points on the night. They are each tied at 5 points in 6 games for the Rampage.
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