Gameday! 3/23/2011: Rampage @ Rockford

 



San Antonio Rampage
37-27-3-2 7th in West Div. - 79pts
Last game: Lost to Houston (3-2 in SO) on Mar. 20th


Leaders
Goals: Alex Picard  21
Assists: Garrett Stafford  28
Points: Mathieu Beaudoin  46
+/- : Nick Ross  +6
PIM: Dane Byers  151
Wins: Matt Climie 24
GAA: Climie 2.57
Save %: Climie .917



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  Rockford IceHogs
   28-32-4-5  8th in West Div. - 65pts
   Last game: Lost to Grand Rapids (5-3) on Mar. 20th



Leaders
Goals: Jeff Taffe  23
Assists: Brian Connelly  38
Points: Taffe  51
+/- : Rob Klinkhammer/Mathis Olimb  +5
PIM: Kyle Hagel  204
Wins: Hannu Toivonen/Alec Richards  14
GAA:   Richards 2.90
Save % : Toivenen  .902


Rockford MetroCentre
Rockford IL
6:35pm CDT
Radio: Ticket 760 AM
www.ticket760.com



  The Rampage come off of, what can only be described as a failure of a homestand, to face the last place Rockford IceHogs in Illinois. Tonight is the first of 5 straight away from home ice, all against Division opponents. The trip will span 9 days and will pretty much determine if the final 6 games will hold any meaning whatsoever.

  The Rampage had a stellar opportunity to make up ground in the tight West Division last week, playing 4 of 5 games on home ice and 4 games withing the division. The Rampage managed to get 4 of a possible 10 points out of the week going 1-0-2-2 and won 0 games in regulation, thus allowing those divisional foes the opportunity to also get a point.

  With just 11 games remaining, 5 at home, the Rampage are facing an uphill climb just to have the opportunity to play a superior opponent in the playoffs. They sit at 79 points, trailing 4th place OKC by 3 points and Peoria and Chicago by 2 points for the non-guaranteed "crossover" position. To say that 2 points against a not very good Rockford team is a necessity, pretty much goes without saying.

  Reading between the lines of Dan Weiss' Twitter feed, it appears that neither Maxim Goncharov or Jonas Ahnelov made the trip with the team yesterday. Both, however, could join the team next week for the Milwaukee games. Everyone else, minus MacArthur obviously, seems to be healthy and ready to go.

Good luck to the guys tonight and the rest of the week(end). It's not over yet, but without solid defensive play and scoring from some depth players, the fat lady is certainly warming up the old pipes. Regardless, I'm sure the guys will come to play. So, with that, LETS GO RAMPAGE!!