Offense
Overall, the offense has been a problem spot this season for the Rampage. The biggest problem really lies with the tentative and completely uncreative power play. The Rampage currently average just 2.48 goals per game and rank 27th out of 30 AHL teams with the extra skater. Another factor has been the lack of a true puck moving defenseman. Colby Robak has been decent and Tyson Strachan has recently shown more of an inclination to aggressively move the puck out of his own zone. Early on, however, there were times when the puck just wasn’t being moved up ice to the forwards with any authority and it led to neutral turnovers more often than not. But all hope is not lost! Since the addition of Jon Matsumoto, and subsequent subtraction of two huge underachievers in Dadonov and Jenks, the Rampage have averaged 3.67 goals per game and are 4-9 on the power play in 3 games. Now that the Rampage are making teams pay for taking penalties, something that wasn’t happening for 3 months, they may back off a bit and play the PK a little less aggressively. This can create more time and space for the power play to work. There is room for a ton of improvement and, if the first 3 games of the Matsumoto era are any indication, the room is filling up fast.
The Good:
Bracken Kearns
Addition of Matsumoto
Mark Cullen’s passing
Evan Barlow!!!
Tim Kennedy’s defense
The Bad:
Tim Kennedy’s offense
Evgenii Dadonov
Bill Thomas and Greg Rallo in November
The Ugly:
AJ Jenks stat line (27GP 0G-0A-0pts -7)
Florida’s injury issues at forward
The Power Play
Things to pay attention to:
The Matsumoto line, whichever one he is on. The guy is highly skilled and plays with an energy like we haven’t seen since David Spina wore #17. Just don’t get comfortable, Mats will be a UFA after the season so I fully expect a one and done.
Defense
Since the beginning of the relationship with Florida (Part II), we have been told by Panthers brass and Rampage broadcaster Dan Weiss that this team would be built from the net out. For 6 weeks, I was pretty sure I was being lied to. The defense looked average at best and we were all left wondering, “what the hell was that?” on more than one occasion. We still encounter those games on occasion (oh hi Abbotsford and Houston), but since the beginning of December, this defensive corps has been one of the steadiest and stingiest in the league. Beginning with a 1-0 loss on Dec 2nd to OKC, the Rampage are allowing just 2.24 goals per game in the last 22 games. If they can eliminate the 5 and 6 goal efforts that occasionally pop up, the defense can take this team a long ways, especially with the new found offense.
The Good:
Colby Robak
Nolan Yonkman since Dec 1st
A healthy Tyson Strachan
The Bad:
Keith Seabrook (sorry ladies)
The once every 2 week complete meltdowns
The Ugly:
Mike Vernace’s first two games in a Rampage uniform (been great since)
The complete dissolution of the Panthers prospects on Defense
Things to pay attention to:
The Mike Vernace situation. I have to wonder how long the Florida organization is willing to scratch Vernace every night while playing an inferior defenseman due to the veteran limit.
Goalies
The Rampage have run 6 goalies onto the ice so far this season, more than any other team in the league. Fortunately, the revolving door was slammed shut* when Dov Grumet-Morris was signed to a contract. DGM has been a rock since joining the squad. He currently boasts a 1.99 GAA and a .931 save %, good for second in the league. And that includes one of the aforementioned meltdowns when he allowed 4 goals to the Aeros in just over a period’s worth of work. He has also shown he can handle a heavy load, playing all 3 games of a 3 in 3 weekend this past week. Hot shot prospect Jacob Markstrom also showed flashes of why he widely considered to be the top goalie prospect in hockey. While Markstrom hasn’t been as consistent as DGM this season, he flat out stole 2 or 3 games this season for the Rampage. Unfortunately, injuries to Jose Theodore and Scott Clemmensen in Florida and a minor knee procedure on Markstrom himself have limited his time in San Antonio. Brian Foster has played like you’d expect a rookie to play behind a struggling team. Foster showed some solid skills but struggled overall.
The Good:
DGM. He’s the best goalie I’ve seen in a Rampage uniform.
Markstrom when his focus is “on”
Markstrom’s dance moves
The Bad:
Brian Foster’s reaction time
The Ugly:
Signing Manny Legace and seeing him play 20 minutes**
Things to pay attention to:
Can DGM keep playing every single game? At some point, he’s going to need a break. When that times, is the team improved enough to not make me cringe when Foster skates out during intros? (I think he’ll be fine for the record)
* I am well aware that a “slamming” revolving door is an impossibility.
** I’m a Red Wings fan. It broke my heart to see him go.
I’m glad you asked faithful reader. I was just going to type a paragraph about that and now it won’t feel awkward and unsolicited.
If the Panthers can get and stay relatively healthy, this Rampage team can make some noise in the Western Conference. However, with the talent in the conference, and the hole the Rampage kind of found themselves in, they can’t afford injuries (here or in Florida) and need to avoid those games where they just stop playing after giving up 2 goals.. The offense is finally dangerous and the defense is playing smart and disciplined system hockey.The additions and Sean Sullivan make this team instantly better. If DGM can hold up to the grind or we can get Markstrom back and healthy, I like this teams chances to make the playoffs. Once in, they are as dangerous as any team in the conference. Strong defense, superb goaltending, and an offense that can make a team pay for mistakes. Step one is getting there. Step two is waking me up from my fainting spell.
Friday is dollar beer night! Come loud and come proud and let’s show the guys that their efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Players for every team in the league (except for Rockford or Bridgeport maybe) always say they play for the best fans. Let’s make sure our guys mean it when they say it…and they do.
Until then, LET’S GO RAMPAGE!!
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