Photo Credit: Vince Cardenas

The San Antonio Rampage (1-1-0-0) rattled off a franchise-record of 56 shots in a 3-1 win against the Rockford IceHogs (1-1-0-0) at the AT&T Center on Saturday, Oct. 5.

On a night highlighted by brutal body checks and hard slap-stick shots, the Rampage were aggressive from the opening whistle, having lost a hard fought season opener to the Chicago Wolves the night before.

“Any win is a good feeling,” said Rampage center John Matsumoto, who lead the team with two goals. “Obviously we wanted to win both games. We felt we deserved to win last night, but we didn’t play our best for 60 minutes.

“If you take a period off, you won’t win very many games in this league.”

The Rampage had 21 shots on goal in the first period alone as they displayed a dominating offense. The IceHogs were held to eight shots.

“The more shots you take, the better chances you have to score more goals,” said Matsumoto after the game. “Basically on this ice, in this rink, any shot is a good shot.”

Both teams committed four penalties in the first period — highlighted by a fight two minutes into the game between Rampage left wing Eric Selleck and IceHogs defensemen Jared Nightingale.

Matsumoto got things going in the second period when he netted a great one-time slap-shot on a power-play to give the Rampage a 1-0 lead. Rampage defensemen Colby Robak and center Greg Rallo assisted on the goal.

Rampage goalie Scott Clemmensen made his first start of the season, stopping 24-of-25 shots.

“My motto is to get ready, be ready and stay ready,” said Clemmensen, who was signed on Oct. 3 from the Florida Panthers. “There was rust for me in different areas, but the best way to beat it is to get into those game situations.”

In the third period the IceHogs were able to tie the game a goal from center Alex Broadhurst.

The Rampage responded with Matsumoto’s second goal of the game 11:47 into the third period.

With about a minute left, the IceHogs pulled their goalie for a man advantage, but it resulted in an empty-net goal from defensemen Alex Petrovic for the third and final Rampage goal of the game.

“Tonight, right from the beginning of the game, we had the advantage,” said Rampage first-year head coach Peter Horachek after the game. “The guys did a good job and I’m really proud of them.”

On Friday, Oct. 12 the Rampage will head to Allstate Arena for back-to-back road games against the Chicago Wolves.