For the first month of the 2013/14 season, Rampage fans wondered where the high powered offensive attack was hiding. Last weekend against OKC, we caught a glimpse. Last night, that offense broke out, scoring three goals in the final 20 minutes to defeat the Charlotte Checkers 5-3 for their second straight win.
The Checkers struck first early as Justin Shugg walked in unmolested and beat Rampage goalie Michael Houser for a 1-0 Checkers lead. The Rampage were hurt by what appeared to be a bad defensive breakdown and Shugg made them pay.
Just over two minutes later, however, the Rampage would pull even on a deflection in front of Checkers goalie Rick DiPietro off the stick of Garrett Wilson. Rookie Vincent Trocheck would carry the puck deep and circle it back to the point for Jonathan Racine. Racine's wrist shot would find Wilson's stick and eventually the back of the net, tying the score 1-1 less than five minutes into the game.
The Checkers (V. Rask) and Rampage (J. Crabb) would trade one more goal each before the end of the period and the first stanza ended with a 2-2 tie.
The Rampage carried the play for most of the second period. The Checkers, however, pushed back and took the lead on an absolutely picture perfect play. Adam Brace raced up the right side and fired a beautiful saucer pass to a streaking Matt Marquardt who poked the one timer passed Houser. Rampage defensemen Colby Robak and John Lee probably couldn't have played any better defense on the play.
Rampage forward Quinton Howden has been relatively quiet early in the season. The third period, however, would change all of that. Just over three minutes in, Howden would use his speed to beat his man down the ice and fired a pass to the net, which Rallo promptly deposited into the gaping goal tying the game 3-3. After another Wilson goal gave the Rampage a 4-3 lead, Howden would seal the game on a "Quinton Howden Special". With Jon Matsumoto serving a tripping penalty, Howden gathered up a Petrovic clearing attempt and absolutely blazed down the right side eventually beating DiPietro on a shorthanded breakaway. It was the Rampage's first SH goal of the season and couldn't have come at a better time.
The game would get chippy in the final five minutes with both teams combining for 22 penalty minutes, but the Rampage would hold on for the win, and more importantly, leave the ice as a healthy group.
This is the team I expected to see this season. Offensive skill, hard work, but questionable defense. Despite giving up three goals, Michael Houser made 3 or 4 ridiculous saves, including one in the second period against Justin Shugg that was absolute larceny.
The Rampage now travel to Abbotsford for a back to back with the Heat starting Tuesday night.
News and Notes:
- Trocheck's two assists means that the rookie now has multi-point games in three straight games and in four of his last six contests.
- Alex Petrovic is starting to live up to his NHL expectations. He is playing a confident and aggressive game and making almost no mistakes.
- Philippe Cornet was a healthy scratch for the third time this season.
- After having a breakout rookie season, Jared Gomes is scoreless in nine games this season.
- Michael Houser is still unbeaten in his first AHL season. With the exception of back-to-backs, the team has to be thinking about giving him the keys to this team until he proves he can't handle it.
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