CEDAR PARK, Texas – The San Antonio Rampage (27-16-4-0) dropped their first game of the Rodeo Road Trip, falling to the Texas Stars (21-16-10-1) 6-1 in front of 4,872 at the Cedar Park Center on Tuesday night. The loss marks just the third in nine games of the season series against Texas.
The defending Calder Cup Champions scored twice on four power-play opportunities, and Jussi Rynnas finished with 28 saves on 29 shots. 
A centering pass from Derek Hulak to Cameron Gaunce led to the first goal of the game, as Gaunce beat Ellis to give the Stars a 1-0 lead at the 17:29 mark of the opening period.
The floodgates opened for the Stars in the second stanza, starting just 40 seconds into the frame. Texas converted on the power play when Gaunce’s blast from the point rebounded off Ellis, and Jamie Oleksiak backhanded it in to make it 2-0. Less than two minutes later, Gemel Smith capitalized on a Rampage turnover, wristing a shot from the left circle to make it 3-0 and prompt San Antonio to put Michael Houser in net in relief of Ellis.
Curtis McKenzie got on the board late in the frame, firing from the left circle to make it 4-0 in favor of the Stars, and Greg Rallo capped the second-period scoring to give the Stars a 5-0 lead at the second intermission.
Smith picked up his second of the game with 3:17 remaining to account for the final 6-1 score.
Ellis finished with 12 saves on 15 shots, and Houser made 13-of-16 saves in a relief effort. San Antonio was 1-for-6 on the power play.
You must be logged in to post a comment.