Gameday! 1/1/11: Rampage AT Houston

 

San Antonio Rampage
23-10-1-0 1st in Western Div. - 47pts
Last game: Lost to OKC (4-1) on Dec. 31st





Leaders
Goals: Brett MacLean  14
Assists: Garrett Stafford 18
Points: MacLean  31
+/- : Chris Summers +10
PIM: Eric Neilson 56
Wins: Matt Climie 14
GAA: Climie 2.50
Save %: Climie .921






VS.




 


 Houston Aeros
18-17-1-2 7th in Western Div. - 39pts
 Last game: Lost to Rockford (3-1)  on Dec. 30th






Leaders
Goals: Robbie Earl 10
Assists: Maxim Noreau 15
Points: Earl/Noreau 22
+/- : Chad Rau +5
PIM: Matt Kassian 80
Wins: Anton Khudobin 2
GAA: Anton Khudobin 2.58
Save % : Khudobin .911


Toyota Center, Houston TX
7:35pm CDT
Radio: Ticket 760 AM
www.ticket760.com



 The Rampage hit the road after a disappointing 4-1 loss to the OKC Barons on New Years Eve. Alexandre Giroux would record a hat trick and Martin Gerber would stop 43 of 44 shots as the Rampage lost to the Barons for the first time in 5 games. Petr Prucha would score the lone goal for the Rampage on a power play tally in the 3rd, but major defensive lapses and the red hot tending of Gerber would prevent any comebacks last night.

Thoughts from the game:

- The Rampage dominated that game. And 8 times out of 10, it's a victory by a multiple goal margin. Gerber was just that good.

- Michael Stone was awful. Someone needs to drill into his head that if you are going to pinch at the blue line, you damn well better knock the guy off the puck. I've grown tired of his half hearted hip checks that lead to breakaways or odd man rushes.

- Conversely, for as much as I got on Ahnelov earlier in the season, I haven't noticed him much. Which is a good thing when one of my main focuses at games is defensive breakdowns. He's playing much more responsibly and starting to even hit a little.

- Climie has looked very slow to react in the last 2 games. Maybe he just needs some time to get his timing back after not playing but half a game in a week. If he doesn't pick it up, fat emo kid is going to start booing him too.

  I really don't have a whole lot of anything else to say. Like I said, the Rampage dominated all over the ice except for the one place it mattered. Gerber just stole the show, and the Rampage blue line (once again) showed it's inexperience at times and got eaten up. The Rampage now hit the road for three very though contests before returning home next weekend to take on the two Texas clubs...again.

  It's important for this team to just stay the course and grind out some wins until they get their skill players back, whether it be from Phoenix or from injuries. Losing hold of 1st place will not be the end of the world. The first step is getting to the playoffs and the first 3 months of the season has given them a fantastic head start.

  Happy 2011 everyone, and until next week, LET'S GO RAMPAGE!!!