San Antonio Rampage
23-13-1-0 3rd in West Div. - 47pts
Last game: Lost to Peoria (7-4 ) on Jan 5th.
Leaders
Goals: Brett MacLean 15
Assists: Garrett Stafford 20
Points: MacLean 33
+/-: MacLean +8
PIM: Eric Neilson 56
Wins: Matt Climie 14
GAA: Climie 2.53
Save %: Climie .919
VS.
Texas Stars
21-11-2-2 4th in West Div. - 46pts
Last game: Defeated Abbotsford (3-0) on Dec. 31st
Leaders
Goals: Travis Morin 13
Assists: Morin 17
Points: Morin 30
+/-: Dan Spang +11
PIM: Luke Gazdic 61
Wins: Richard Bachman 13
GAA: Bachman 2.04
Save %: Bachman .933
AT&T Center, San Antonio TX
7:00pm CST
Radio: Ticket 760 AM
www.ticket760.com
The Rampage return home after an 0-3 road trip, and losers of 5 of their last 6, to battle in-state rival Texas for the first of 3 games in 3 nights. The Rampage have fallen from 1st in the division (and conference) to 3rd place with Milwaukee's victory last night. The red hot Stars sit just one point back and, with a win, could knock the Rampage to 4th place.
The Rampage lost 7-4 to Peoria on Wednesday as former Rampage winger Derek Nesbitt scored 4 goals and added an assist. This is the second time a player has scored 4 goals on the Rampage in less than a month. The first being Casey Wellman for the Aeros on Dec. 10th in Houston. In the game, the Rampage blew 2 two goal leads before crumbling in the 3rd period. Al Montoya took the loss in net and drew the ire of many Rampage fans (more later).
Brett MacLean had a goal and an assist, while Garrett Stafford also notched a goal and an assist, moving him to the top of the AHL for scoring among defensemen with 28 points.
Now, onto the raging debate all over the internet about how bad Al Montoya is. I will start this paragraph with a disclaimer:
I am just as frustrated as everyone else. I think Al is severely underperforming to his talent level. I wonder if it might be time to move on from the Montoya era in San Antonio.
That said, the Montoya hate I am reading is horribly misguided and hyperbolic. He has played very well in several key games for us this season. He has also struggled in others, just as most goalies do. However, his defensive help is non-existent right now, and thanks to some research I did yesterday, he's not alone.
Numbers time!! In the last 5 games for both Montoya and Climie, here are the results:
Montoya: 1-3 3.50 GAA .868 Save%
That's pretty bad. And if seen alone would be deserving of boos from fat emo kid. But wait...
Climie: 2-3 3.89 GAA .870 Save %
But how can that be? Montoya gets booed whether he plays well or not, while Climie gets resounding cheers. But looking at the numbers over the last month, they are the SAME EXACT GOALIE!! The team in front of them is what is deserving of boos. Specifically, the defensive effort (or lack thereof). Yeah, these goalies need to make a tough save now and again, but I've been to every home game and asking these guys to save multiple breakaways and odd man rushes every game is not realistic. Instead, they need to be eliminated by the guys skating in front of them.
Now Montoya has known confidence issues. And maybe he doesn't belong on a team with inexperience on the blue line and a penchant for making glaring defensive breakdowns. I won't argue that. But Al has proven in his career, that when he's put on a good team, he can be successful. I would bet a good chunk of change that if Fallon were brought in, over time, he would have the same struggles until the team in front of him gets better.
/soapbox moment
Matt Climie was called up to Phoenix for last night's game in Denver due to a medical emergency in Ilya Bryzgalov's family. As of this post, no word has been made on his return, but Bryz is expected back today, so I expect Climie to back by game time tonight. I wont guess who gets the start (if Climie is back, I guess him) but judging by the numbers it won't matter anyway. The offense is going to have to show up.
Thanks for reading, see you at the rink, and LET'S GO RAMPAGE!!!
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