October 6, 2006
© OurSportsCentral.com

San Antonio - Daniel Winnik scored the game winning goal in overtime as the Rampage defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins 5-4 Friday night at the AT&T Center. The Rampage opened the season with a win as they sported their new black and silver jerseys as the theme of Back in Black rang throughout the arena.

Veteran Tyson Nash put the Rampage on the board when he tapped in the puck behind Griffins' goaltender Jimmy Howard with help from Keith Yandle and Winnik. Just like Deja vu, Matthew Spiller and Bill Thomas teamed up to help Yanick Lehoux sneak the puck behind Howard only 46 seconds after Nash's goal.

The Griffins opened the second period with a goal to cut the deficit in half as Matt Ellis assisted Josh Langfeld with the one-man advantage. Six minutes later the Rampage fought to keep their lead as Randall Gelech and Ryan Garlock helped Nash pin up his second goal of the night. Jeff Taffe extended the Rampage lead to 4-1 with an unassisted shot in the upper right corner at the 8:30 mark.

Less than a minute later Jason Beckett, who attended Rampage training camp just last week, put the puck in the top right corner past David LeNeveu for the Griffins' second goal. With the one man advantage, Krystofer Kolanos and Dan Smith contributed to Brendan Brooks' goal with four minutes left in the second period.

Grand Rapids crept back in the game in the closing period as Langfeld helped Kip Miller score the Griffins' third power-play goal of the night and tie the game at 4-4.

With less than a minute to go in overtime, rookie Winnik went top shelf on Howard to end the game with a 5-4 victory for San Antonio.

The Rampage host the West Division Iowa Stars at the AT&T Center Saturday night at 7 p.m.