Ryan Hamilton scored the go-ahead goal with 5:55 left in regulation, part of a four-goal third-period outburst to lead Oklahoma City to a 5-2 win over San Antonio in Game 1 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series on Thursday night.
The sixth-seeded Barons take a 1-0 lead into Saturday’s Game 2 back at the Cox Convention Center.
Brad Hunt had given Oklahoma City an early lead in Game 1 with a power-play goal 12:04 into the contest, but Vincent Trocheck and Rocco Grimaldi answered for the Rampage, who held onto their 2-1 lead past the midway point of the third.
Joshua Winquist tied the score on a power play at 10:22 of the third, wristing a shot past Dan Ellis from the top of the right-wing circle.
Less than four minutes later, Jason Williams pounced on a loose puck and sprung Hamilton on a breakaway. Ellis made the initial stop but Hamilton banged home the rebound to give the Barons a 3-2 lead.
Connor Jones and Matthew Ford added empty-net goals to finish up the scoring.
Laurent Brossoit, making his AHL playoff debut, stopped 29 of 31 shots to earn the win for Oklahoma City. Ellis finished with 33 saves on 36 shots in defeat.
Western Conference Quarterfinals – Series “G” (best-of-5)
3-San Antonio Rampage vs. 6-Oklahoma City Barons
Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 23 – OKLAHOMA CITY 5, San Antonio 2
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 25 – San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 8:00
Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 29 – Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 8:00
*Game 4 – Fri., May 1 – Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 8:30
*Game 5 – Sat., May 2 – Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 8:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
