IOWA STUNS SAN ANTONIO WITH 3-2 WIN IN OVERTIME
Feb 9, 2019-Wild ties it up with eight seconds left in regulation, scores in first minute of OT-
In front of more than 10,000 fans celebrating the organization’s Pink in the Rink game, Iowa Wild (27-16-4-3; 61 pts.) recorded its second straight come-from-behind victory, defeating the San Antonio Rampage (23-21-4-0; 50 pts.) by a score of 3-2 in overtime Saturday evening.
Iowa trailed 2-1 in the waning minutes of the third period and pulled goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (20 saves) for an extra attacker. With sustained offensive zone pressure, defenseman Brennan Menell sent a slap shot on net that was deflected by defenseman Carson Soucy. Rampage goaltender Jared Coreau (29 saves) made the save but on the left side of the net, forward JT Brown roofed the rebound for his first goal in an Iowa Wild sweater. Brown’s goal came at 19:51 in the third period and tied the game at 2-2, sending the contest into overtime.
In the extra frame, forward Mason Shaw had the puck on the left side of the blueline and sent a cross-ice pass to Soucy at the top of the right circle. Soucy blasted a one-timer into the top right corner above Coreau’s glove, completing the comeback for the Wild just 39 seconds into overtime. Soucy’s goal was his fifth of the season and capped off a two-point night. The game-winner also secured the third consecutive win for the Wild and gave Iowa the sweep in the two-game series against San Antonio.
The Rampage opened the game with a goal at 15:59 in the first period off the stick of forward Sammy Blais. While on the power play, Blais received a pass from defenseman Mitch Reinke and one-timed it under Kahkonen’s blocker for his eighth of the season, extending his point streak to four games. Forward Jordan Kyrou recorded the secondary assist for his seventh straight game with a point and sixth straight game with a helper.
Iowa knotted the game at 1-1 at 7:45 in the second period when forward Gerry Mayhew extended his goal streak to three games, the longest such streak of his career. Brown picked up a loose puck in the offensive zone and threw it on net. Mayhew knocked the puck into the air and over Coreau’s glove for his team-leading 17th goal of the season. Defenseman Louie Belpedio was credited with the secondary assist, his third consecutive game with a point as well.
San Antonio reclaimed the lead when forward Klim Kostin notched his sixth tally of the year at 10:04 in the middle frame. Kostin beat Kahkonen blocker side from the right faceoff dot after receiving a pass from defenseman Jordan Schmaltz, who recorded his first assist of the year on the play. Forward Nolan Stevens also logged an assist on the goal, his eighth helper of the year.
After the goals by Brown and Soucy, the Wild skated away with a 3-2 victory and two points. Final shot totals were 32-22 in favor of Iowa. The Wild went 0-for-4 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.
The victory kept pace with the Central Division-leading Grand Rapids Griffins, as the Wild are just two points out of first place. Iowa hits the ice again on Feb. 16 against the Rockford IceHogs at BMO Harris Bank Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
The Iowa Wild 2018-19 season is presented by MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center and runs from October through April. For more information, please contact the Wild office by calling 515-564-8700 or by visiting www.iowawild.com.