Gameday! 1/9: Rampage @ Houston

 

San Antonio Rampage
25-13-1-0 2nd in Western Div. - 51pts
Last game: Defeated Houston (4-0) on Jan. 8th





Leaders
Goals: Brett MacLean  16
Assists: Garrett Stafford/Mikkel Boedker 21
Points: MacLean  36
+/- : MacLean +12
PIM: JD Watt 73
Wins: Matt Climie 16
GAA: Climie 2.35
Save %: Climie .923






AT




 


 Houston Aeros
20-18-1-2 6th in Western Div. - 43pts
 Last game: Lost to Rampage (4-0)  on Jan. 8th






Leaders
Goals: Robbie Earl 11
Assists: Maxim Noreau 16
Points: Earl 25
+/- : Chad Rau +7
PIM: Matt Kassian 96
Wins: Matt Hackett 8
GAA: Matt Hackett 2.66
Save % : Khudobin/Hackett .906

Toyota Center, Houston TX
4:05pm CST
Radio: Ticket 760 AM
www.ticket760.com




  The Rampage take on the Aeros in a Sunday matinee from Houston after shutting out that same squad 4-0 Saturday night. Matt Climie was relatively untested, stopping all 24 shots he faced, earning his 3rd shutout of the season. The Rampage got goals from 4 different scorers, including Brett MacLean who picked up his team leading 16th goal, and chased Matt Hackett halfway through the second period. Former Rampage goalie, and all time leader in franchise history for wins, Josh Tordjman would come on in relief and play well, stopping all 12 shots. The Rampage really let off the gas, however, and played a much more conservative game in the 3rd period.

Thoughts from the game:

- Climie has been good. His defense has been outstanding. I don't know what fire Ray Edwards was able to light after the Peoria loss, but he needs to keep adding firewood.

- The top line of Boedker-Ebbett-MacLean might be one of the top scoring lines in the AHL. The balance and skill this line possesses is top notch.

- Petr Prucha is really really fun to watch. It really puts the league in perspective though to see a guy with his skill skate circles around guys in the AHL and know that he was having a hard time getting out of the pressbox for Phoenix.

- Chris Summers is going to be a very good NHL defenseman. He is so smooth on and off the puck, he's smart, and he is rarely ever in the wrong place.

- Max Goncharov has found a groove folks. He has really started to adjust to the North American game. Look for a big second half from him.

- Ryan Weston needs to do something about his jersey. He almost got killed twice last night because his jersey was yanked up over his head in the first 1/2 a second of his fights.

- I made it on the FSSW broadcast twice last night. The first time was after the Watkins goal (goal #2) and the second was after the game throwing up a big ZERO to the Houston bench and fans.


  The Rampage still trail Peoria by 2 points for the lead in the division. They did, however, put a little bit of distance between themselves and the teams chasing them as both Texas and Chicago would lose.


  The Rampage have officially announced the signing of forward JD Watt. Watt, formerly in the Calgary organization, is another grinder/enforcer type, who left the Flames organization on "questionable" terms. It is not known if he has joined the team yet.


Here's hoping for another solid win to open up a little more breathing room. LET'S GO RAMPAGE!!