Rampage sweep series with Monsters, 4-1

CLEVELAND, OH  – The San Antonio Rampage (3-4-0-0) concluded their short road stint collecting a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Monsters (3-4-0-0) in the Quicken Loans Arena. Mike Sislo notched his first goal and game winner of the 2016-17 campaign, san-antonio-rampage-logoearning him the First Star of the Game.

The game yet again began quietly, with neither team seeing a goal in the first 20 minutes. The Rampage saw more power play opportunities in the first period of tonight’s game than the entire contest yesterday evening. Despite having four chances on the power play, including a 5 to 3-man advantage, the Silver and Black were unable to convert any goals. Spencer Martin denied all seven of the Monsters’ shots on goal, including their one opportunity on the power play early in the period.

It seemed as though the game would endure yet another scoreless period, until San Antonio broke the ice notching the first goal of the contest for the fifth consecutive game late in the second. The point came when Rocco Grimaldi launched a loose puck the length of the ice, with A.J. Greer outskating opponents to receive it. He made a quick drop pass to J.T. Compher, who netted his second goal in back-to-back games with two minutes remaining in the second. Spencer maintained a clean sheet, shutting out all 10 of Cleveland’s shots on goal.

The Monsters opened the scoring in the third just four and a half minutes into the period. Alex Broadhurst took advantage of a Rampage turnover deep in their own zone, passing it to Justin Scott who notched the first goal of his professional career, tying the game at one. The Rampage responded late in the third, when a Monster turnover gave Joe Whitney a break-away opportunity to set up Mike Sislo for his first goal of the 2016-17 campaign. For the second night in a row, the Rampage were charged with a late minor with two and a half minutes left to play, but the Monsters were unable to capitalize yet again with the 6-4 numbers advantage. The open net gave the Rampage plenty of time to notch two more goals in the last minute of regulation, delivered by Jim O’Brien and Julien Nantel respectively.

Martin finished the game with 27 saves on 28 total shots, earning him the Second Star of the Game. Although the Rampage were unable to break Cleveland’s home penalty-kill success, they did manage to leave the Monster’s scoreless on six opportunities with man advantage.

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