Gameday! 12/31: Rampage vs. Oklahoma City

 



San Antonio Rampage
23-9-1-0 1st in Western Div. - 47pts
Last game:Defeated OKC (5-3) on Dec 29th.


Leaders
Goals: Alexandre Picard 13
Assists: Garrett Stafford 18
Points: Matthieu Beaudoin 27
+/-: Chris Summers +12
PIM: Eric Neilson 56
Wins: Matt Climie 14
GAA: Climie 2.48
Save %: Climie .923



VS






  
  Oklahoma City Barons
   16-13-1-4 7th in West Div. - 37pts
   Last game:Lost to Rampage (5-3) on Dec 29th





Leaders
Goals: Colin McDonald 17
Assists: Alexandre Giroux 21
Points: Giroux 31
+/- : Liam Reddox +11
PIM: Alex Plante 70
Wins: Martin Gerber 11
GAA:  Gerber 2.52
Save % : Gerber .916


AT&T Center
San Antonio, TX
7:00pm CST
Radio: Ticket 760 AM
www.ticket760.com



  Happy New Year's Eve everyone! The Rampage come into tonight's game on the heels of a much needed and very impressive 5-3 come from behind win over these same Barons just 2 nights ago. The Barons jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first 3 and a half minutes. The Rampage however, would turn up the pressure in the final 10 minutes of the period. That physicality and aggressiveness would carry over into the 2nd period, which the Rampage would dominate.

  Ryan Hollweg would get the Rampage on the board in the opening minutes of the period with a perfect deflection of a Michael Stone shot on the power play. At the halfway point of the period, the Rampage would get whistled for closing a hand on the puck in the crease, leading to an Alexandre Giroux penalty shot. Giroux came down the right side and froze Matt Climie, completely fooling him. Fortunately, Giroux's wrist shot hit the far side post and the Rampage escaped another 2 goal deficit. Just 2 and a half minutes later, the Rampage would strike again. Newcomer Tyler Mosienko would carry the zone and make an aggressive drive to the net. After a mad scrum in the crease, Blair Riley, playing in his first game with the Rampage would poke the lose puck just under Barons goaltender Martin Gerbers pads tying the game at 2. Three minutes later, Petr Prucha would make yet another beautiful cross ice pass, after gaining the zone, to Matt Watkins who would snap a wrister past Gerber giving the Rampage their first lead of the game.
  On the ensuing faceoff, Rampage enforcer Eric Neilson and Barons defenseman Jordan Bendfield would drop the gloves, bringing the AT&T Center crowd of nearly 7,000 to their feet again. Neilson landed 2 huge blows to Bendfields head and quickly knocked him to the ice bringing the loudest cheer I have heard from a Rampage crowd in 2 years. Neislon has a brilliant personality, but I think he may be a bit..."off". In a good way. The guy is nuts.
  The Barons would tie the score again in the closing minutes of the period after a giveaway in the defensive zone led to a brilliant move by Colin MacDonald. After picking up the puck, MacDonald pretty much undressed Chris Summers AND Matt Climie, scoring into the empty net.
  The 3rd period would see both teams getting chances and both goalies making some key stops. With about 4 minutes left, Andrew Ebbett would pick up a loose puck in the slot and beat Gerber high stick side. Everyone in the building thought the puck had gone in except the 3 that mattered. Referee David Banfield immediately called it a no goal and play continued. The crowd was livid. At the next stoppage, the referees conferred with each other and the goal judge and the initial call was upheld. After seeing the replay, I think they got it right. I was as angry as anyone, but it was the right call.
  Under a minute later, Matt Watkins would come through with another huge goal give the Rampage a late lead. After another scrum in the crease, Watkins would find the loose puck and send a backhander past a sprawling Gerber. Watkins would then finish off the Hat Trick with an empty netter with 31 seconds left sending all 4 hats onto the ice (more later).
  Rampage goalie Matt Climie shook off a rusty start to pick up his 14th win of the year. Watkins had 3 goals. Peter Prucha chipped in 3 assists and Blair Riley would score his first goal above the ECHL level. A very exciting game with another brilliant mid week crowd. The building was absolutely buzzing from the second period on.


Thoughts:

- OKC's defense is pretty awful. Very little aggressiveness and it's fairly easy to gain entry into the offensive zone.

- The Rampage tried skating with them for 10 minutes and got beat like a drum. So they went to a style they are going to have to get used to, physical and super aggressive. This especially helps against a skill team like OKC and is one of the reasons Texas has had so much success against the Rampage. They grind you down until you make mistakes.

- I'm hoping they keep attacking the net. Mosienko is fearless, albeit unskilled for this level. Watkins isn't afraid to get dirty and Riley showed in his first game that he is willing to get knocked around a bit. It will be a totally different style of hockey, but one I feel this current team can play.