SAN ANTONIO 6, PEORIA 5 (OT)
Out for the first 53 games of the season due to injury and without a goal in 12 games since returning, David Spina capped off a hat trick with the game-winner 1:21 into overtime as San Antonio outlasted Peoria by a 6-5 count on Tuesday at the AT&T Center.
Spina’s game-winner came on the Rampage’s 48th shot of the night and was assisted by Joel Perrault, who finished with two helpers on the evening.
Spina’s first two goals gave San Antonio a 3-1 lead midway through the second period, and the Rampage added to their lead on tallies by Alexandre Picard and MacGregor Sharp.
But the Rivermen stormed back to a draw. Pascal Pelletier and Barry Tallackson cut Peoria’s deficit to 5-3 before the second period was out, and third-period power play strikes by defenseman Daryl Boyle and Julian Talbot made it a 5-5 game and earned the Rivermen a point.
Pelletier (1-2-3), Tallackson (1-1-2), Brett Sonne (0-3-3), and Nicholas Drazenovic all had multiple points for Peoria in the losing effort.
David Schlemko joined Perrault in posting two assists for the Rampage, who have now totaled 13 goals in their last two games after registering just two tallies in their previous two outings.
Goaltender Josh Tordjman emerged with the victory after making 27 saves in net, as San Antonio pulled within six points of Milwaukee for the West Division’s final playoff spot. Peoria now sits seven points back.
