Gameday! Rampage @ Aeros -1/22/2012 5:05pm FSSW

San Antonio Rampage

21-18-2-0 8th Place- Western Conference (44 pts)
Last game: Defeated Peoria 5-1 on Jan 21st

Leaders:

Goals: J. Matsumoto 14

Assists: Matsumoto 23

Pts: Matsumoto 37

+/-: C.Robak/B.Thomas  +11

PIM: E. Selleck 124

Wins: D. Grumet-Morris10

GAA: Grumet-Morris 1.94

Save%: Grumet-Morris .934





AT

 Houston Aeros

21-9-3-8 4th- Western Conference (53 pts)
Last game: Lost 4-3 (SO) to Texas on Jan 21st

Leaders:

Goals: J. DiSalvatore 12

Assists: J. Taffe 19

Pts: DiSalvatore 30

+/-: D. Bagnall/K. Fredheim +8

PIM: D. Bagnall 62

Wins: M.Hackett 13

GAA: D. Kuemper 2.13

Save%:Kuemper .931

Toyota Center

Houston, TX 
5:05pm CST


Radio: The Ticket 760
TV: FSSW

  Recently acquired center, Jon Matsumoto, has paid immediate dividends for the Rampage. On Friday, Matsumoto set up Bracken Kearns for the game winning goal in OT in Houston. One night later, Matsumoto would add a goal and an assist as the Rampage rolled past Peoria on home ice. His playmaking ability was evident from the moment the puck dropped. His vision and skating are unlike any we have seen so far this season. He is always competing for the puck and always seems to be around the play. Should be a great addition to this team moving forward.

Also scoring last night were defenseman Tyson Strachan who netted the game winner late in the first when he took a pass from Tim Kennedy near his own blue line, carried the play through the neutral zone passed 2 Rivermen defenders, and blasted a cannon of a wrist shot past a helpless Ben Bishop to make it 2-1. The game would remain 2-1 until late in the 3rd period when Tim Kennedy took a Jonathan Cheechoo turnover and turned it into a 2 on 1 with James Wright. Kennedy made a picture perfect saucer pass to Wright who one timed the puck past Bishop to give the Rampage some breathing room. Wright would later add his second of the night into an open net and Rampage enforcer Erick Selleck would finish off the scoring with a pretty breakaway goal with 9 seconds left.

  

The Rampage played near perfect defense all night and Dov Grumet-Morris played well after a shaky first period and a half. DGM was allowing more rebounds than usual, but thankfully, Rampage defenders always seemed to be there waiting or had their man sealed off for no chances at a rebound.

  

The Rampage have now won 4 straight games and have managed to climb into a tie with Rochester for the 8th and final playoff spot. After today's game in Houston, the Rampage will have 2 home games next weekend before the all-star break. 2 out of 3 would be a great way to finish off the unofficial first half of the season.

 As noted above, Today's game can be seen on FSSW at 5pm. Enjoy your Sunday and no blog post would be complete without a LETS GO RAMPAGE!!