Rampage doubles Monsters in early weekend start

Gary Nunn‘s empty net goal with 17 seconds to play wiped out any thoughts of a late rally as the host Cleveland Monsters fell 4-2 to the San Antonio Rampage 4-2 at the Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday (Oct. 27) night.

The game was the first of a pair between the two with a wrap up scheduled for the following night.

Teams played through 15 scoreless minutes but fired three in the final five minutes of the opening period.

J.T. Compher started it out with his second of the season for the Rampage with 4:19 to play and A.J. Greer doubled the margin with 1:58 on the clock.

Cody Goloubef scored his first of the season for the Monsters 47 seconds later to get the home side within a shot at the first period break. Alex Belzile scored the lone second period goal to restore the two-goal margin for the Rampage 1:45 but Oliver Bjorkstrand found the mark for this first of the (AHL) campaign in the opening minute to get the Monsters within one again, setting the stage for Nunn.

Spencer Martin made 25 saves in goal for the Rampage to pick up the win while Anton Forsberg turned aside 27 of 30 in goal for the Monsters.

Friday Games

Along with the Rampage-Monsters rematch on Friday (Oct. 28), the other Midwest teams will all be in action as well. The Grand Rapids Griffins will play its first of two in Charlotte, NC against the Charlotte Checkers while the Iowa Stars will wrap up a seven-game season opening homestand against the Milwaukee Admirals and the Chicago Wolves will visit the Rockford IceHogs.