San Antonio Rampage
15-6-1-0 1st in Western Div. - 31pts
Last game: Lost to Milwaukee (5-3) on Nov 28th.
Leaders
Goals: Matt Beaudoin 11
Assists: Mikkel Boedker/ Beaudoin/Garrett Stafford 13
Points: Matt Beaudoin 24
+/-: Chris Summers +8
PIM: Ryan Weston 34
Wins: Matt Climie 9
GAA: Climie 2.21
Save %: Climie .930
AT
Texas Stars
13-8-0-0 6th in Western Div. - 26pts
Last game:Defeated OKC (5-2) on Nov. 30th
Leaders
Goals: Travis Morin/Francis Wathier 8
Assists: Morin 10
Points: Morin 18
+/-: Morin/Dan Spang +8
PIM: Mathieu Tousignant 37
Wins: Richard Bachman 8
GAA: Bachman 1.94
Save %: Bachman .933
Cedar Park Center, Cedar Park TX
7:30pm CDT
Radio: Ticket 760 AM
www.ticket760.com
The Rampage travel to Cedar Park for the third time this season to take on the Stars. The Rampage are coming off 2 straight losses, both in a pretty ugly fashion. Meanwhile the Stars come into tonight's contest winners of 2 straight, both in convincing fashion, including a 5-2 win over the Rampage last Friday night.
Rookie goalie Richard Bachman continues to impress, helping the Stars shut down two pretty high powered offenses in San Antonio and OKC. With a GAA under 2, and the Stars seemingly having Matt Climie's number, the Rampage are really going to have to be on their game to pull out a win tonight.
Tonight's game is the first of yet another 3 games in 3 nights (the second weekend in a row), with all three on the road. The team will head to my home state early tomorrow morning for a 2 game set with Red Wings affiliate Grand Rapids.The team will then travel to Chicago and Houston next week, before returning home on Dec. 11th for what will be their first home game in 13 days.
News, Notes, and Musings
Got to attend the lone open practice of the week yesterday. Some observations
- Alex Picard skated for the first time in a couple weeks after being a late scratch vs. Peoria on Nov. 17th. He wore the yellow jersey and didn't go full speed. He stayed late with Coach Truitt to work on conditioning and was absolutely gassed. I think he's still a week or two away from game action.
- In better news, Jonas Ahnelov was back to full speed at practice and looked solid. He also stayed behind for extra skating and didn't look to struggle as much.
- Andrew Ebbet was centering the MacLean and Boedker line. I think this could be a great move. 2 very good skaters with playmaking ability and a sniper on the wing. Now if only MacLean would get back to the front of the net where he is so dangerous.
- Petr Prucha was skating with Viktor Tikhonov and Matt Beaudoin while Kearns centered a line with Jed Ortmeyer and Matt Watkins.
- Speaking of Prucha, I could be way off on this, but he could easily pass as Mikkel Boedker's older brother. Those guys look very similar in the face. Random thought stream over.
- I feel really bad for Maxim Goncharov. He looks absolutely miserable 90% of the time. I'm fairly certain it's just a comfort/language barrier issue. But the kid just doesn't look like he's having fun.The only person he converses with is Tikhonov. The rest of the time, he does the drills, then goes off and does his own thing. Like I said, I don't think it's an attitude issue. He is just taking awhile to get used to a whole new life.
- Rampage fans should be prepared to be without Oliver Ekmann-Larson's services for a couple weeks at the end of Dec. He has expressed interest to play for his home country of Sweden in the World Junior Championships, and Phoenix GM Don Maloney has given him his blessing so long as OEL isn't in Phoenix.
- Finally, I'm sure everyone knows about the Tim Stapleton news at this point. If not, allow me to catch you up. Tim was signed to a PTO (Professional Tryout Offer) before the season began. The Coyotes and Stapleton hoped to work out a deal that would keep him in the organization for at least this season. Unfortunately for us fans, but very fortunately for Tim, the Atlanta Thrashers came knocking and offered Tim a 2 year deal with the 2nd year being guaranteed NHL money (525k). Tim asked the Coyotes to release him from his PTO so he could pursue this great opportunity. I hope he does well in Atlanta. If/when he gets sent to Chicago (AHL), I hope he fails miserably whenever we play them. Good luck to Tim. He was fun to watch for 6 weeks.
I'll be back tomorrow with a preview of the 2 game set with Grand Rapids. Until then, see you at the rink and LET'S GO RAMPAGE!!
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