The first winner-take-all game of the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs was a thriller at Allstate Arena, and Roman Derlyuk‘s goal 5:28 into the second overtime period gave the visiting San Antonio Rampage a historic 3-2 win over the Chicago Wolves.
It was the first series victory ever for the 10-year-old Rampage franchise, who were the sixth seed in the Western Conference. San Antonio will take on top-seeded Oklahoma City in one conference semifinal series, while Toronto and Abbotsford will meet in the West semi.
Evan Barlow and Mark Cullen scored in regulation and the Rampage held a 2-0 lead past the midway point of the third period.
But Brad Hunt got the Wolves on the board with 9:28 left in regulation, and Darren Haydar scored an extra-attacker goal with 68 seconds remaining to tie it up.
Derlyuk, who scored two goals in 69 regular-season games for San Antonio, got the winner to send the Rampage into the second round.
Jacob Markstrom (3-0) made 37 saves for the win in his return to the San Antonio lineup. Markstrom missed Games 3 and 4 of the series while on NHL recall to Florida.
Eddie Lack, who made 55 saves in a triple-OT Game 7 loss with Manitoba last year, stopped 34 shots in another heartbreaking defeat.
Western Conference Semifinal – Series “K” (best-of-7)
1-Oklahoma City Barons vs. 6-San Antonio Rampage
Game 1 – Thurs., May 3 – San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 8:00
Game 2 – Sat., May 5 – San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 8:00
Game 3 – Mon., May 7 – Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 8:00
Game 4 – Thurs., May 10 – Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 8:00
*Game 5 – Fri., May 11 – Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 8:00
*Game 6 – Sun., May 13 – San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 5:00
*Game 7 – Tue., May 15 – San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 8:00
Western Conference Semifinal – Series “L” (best-of-7)
2-Toronto Marlies vs. 4-Abbotsford Heat
Game 1 – Tue., May 1 – Abbotsford at Toronto, 7:00
Game 2 – Thurs., May 3 – Abbotsford at Toronto, 7:00
Game 3 – Sat., May 5 – Toronto at Abbotsford, 10:00
Game 4 – Tue., May 8 – Toronto at Abbotsford, 10:00
*Game 5 – Wed., May 9 – Toronto at Abbotsford, 10:00
*Game 6 – Sat., May 12 – Abbotsford at Toronto, 3:00
*Game 7 – Sun., May 13 – Abbotsford at Toronto, 3:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
