San Antonio, TX – The Ontario Reign (34-14-3-1) scored three goals in the final three minutes of regulation to stun the San Antonio Rampage (24-29-8-0) 5-4 Wednesday night at AT&T Center. Forward Nic Dowd recorded a goal and two assists including the game-winning tally and defenseman Kevin Gravel added two goals to help extend the Reign’s winning streak to four games.
Listen: Gravel and Dowd Score Late in the Game to Stun Rampage
After a 5-1 victory over the Rampage on Sunday, the Reign picked up where they left off and generated scoring chances off the opening faceoff and challenged the Rampage throughout the first period, outshooting the home squad, 14-9. Rampage netminder Reto Berra (L, 37 saves on 42 shots) denied the Reign while counterpart Peter Budaj (W, 21 saves on 25 shots) provided timely saves including a highlight-reel stop on forward Andrew Agozzino.
Reign defenseman Vincent LoVerde broke the scoreless tie 2:15 into the second period, blasting in his 10th goal of the season past Berra from the right-wing circle. Dowd and defenseman Kurtis MacKermid picked up assists. Just 17 seconds later, Gravel made it 2-0 from the blue line. Defenseman Derek Forbort and forward Kris Newbury added the assists. The Rampage responded moments later as forward Mikko Rantanen registered his team-leading 21st goal of the season at 4:13. Forward Sam Henley tied the contest at 11:51 slipping a shot past Budaj from between the faceoff circles.
Rampage forward Alex Belzile buried two tallies in the third period (8:57 and 11:03) to give San Antonio their first lead of the night and add an insurance marker before the Reign would rally late in the period. With Budaj pulled for the extra skater, forward Jonny Brodzinski pulled the contest within one at 17:24 with help from forwards Sean Backman and Michael Mersch.
After taking the faceoff, the Reign again yanked Budaj for the extra man and cashed in the tying goal with 1:45 left in regulation as Gravel blasted in his second goal of the game from Backman and Dowd. Seconds later, Dowd tracked down a Rampage turnover between the faceoff circles and sent a high slapshot over the blocker of Berra for the unassisted game-winning goal at 18:49.
Both sides finished the game 0-for-2 on the power play.
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