Box Score | Game Notes

SAN ANTONIO (January 5, 2013) – The San Antonio Rampage’s three-game winning streak was halted on Saturday night in Houston, as the Aeros (18-11-2-3) blanked the Rampage (14-18-0-4), 1-0, at Toyota Center.

The loss was the first for the Rampage in five games, as the Silver and Black had taken nine of a possible 10 points entering Saturday’s game. The last time San Antonio dropped a game in regulation came back on Dec. 21 against Toronto.

Rampage netminder Dov Grumet-Morris stopped 28 of 29 shots on the night and was named the Third Star of the game for his efforts. Grumet-Morris has only allowed one goal in each of his last two starts, earning one win and one loss. In that span, he’s stopped 57-of-59 shots.

The loss marked only the third time this season the Rampage have been shutout and the first since Dec. 19 against Texas. Houston goaltender Darcy Kuemper earned his third career shutout – two of which have come against San Antonio – by stopping all 19 shots he faced on the night.

Neither team was able to light the lamp in the first period and the Aeros held the edge in shots at the first intermission, 10-7. Houston also had two power-play opportunities, compared to San Antonio’s one opportunity with the man advantage, and neither squad was able to cash in.

Houston took advantage of a power play early in the second period to take a 1-0 lead. Brian Connelly fired a shot that went over the net and deflected off the glass right to Nick Petersen, who was waiting at the side of the crease and banged it home for his second goal of the year. The power-play goal was Houston’s ninth of the season in 38 tries against the Rampage.

San Antonio was held to only one shot on goal in the first 13 minutes of action in the middle frame. However, Rampage forward Scott Timmins had a quality scoring opportunity with six minutes remaining in the frame. Timmins was able to deflect a pass on net from the top of the crease, but the puck hit the skate of a Houston defenseman and stayed out of the net.

Rampage forward Quinton Howden was dragged down to the ice with just under three minutes remaining in the second period as he flew into the offensive zone on a partial breakaway. The Rampage had several quality opportunities to tie the game on the ensuing power play, but Houston was able to escape with a 1-0 lead after 40 minutes of action.

San Antonio poured on the pressure during a power play near the 12 minute mark of the third period, keeping the puck in the Aeros zone for the duration of the man advantage and firing several high-quality shots. However, Kuemper held strong and was able to keep the puck out of the net.

The Rampage pressed hard in the final minutes of the game, but were unable to solve Kuemper, as San Antonio fell to 2-4-0-0 in the sixth game of the 12 game season series. San Antonio is still looking for its first road win against a divisional opponent (0-7-0-1).

San Antonio went 0-for-3 on the power play on the night, while Houston was 1-for-4 with the man advantage.

The Rampage conclude their three-in-three weekend on Sunday when they return to AT&T Center for a rematch against the Peoria Rivermen at 3:30 p.m. on an Express-News Sunday Funday. San Antonio blanked Peoria, 3-0, on Friday night in the first meeting between the two teams this season.

Individual, and season, tickets start at $10 and can be purchased at the AT&T Center Southeast Box Office, by calling a Rampage representative at 210-444-5554 or online at sarampage.com.