Gameday! Rampage @ Peoria: Apr 1st 5:00pm CDT

San Antonio Rampage

37-27-3-2 Tied-5th Place- Western Conference (79 pts)
Last game: Defeated Rockford 4-3 (S/O) on Mar. 31st

Leaders:

Goals: B.Thomas 25

Assists: J.Matsumoto/M.Cullen 36

Pts: Matsumoto 57

+/-: N.Yonkman +15

PIM: E. Selleck 192

Wins: D. Grumet-Morris 19

GAA: Grumet-Morris 2.34

Save%: J.Markstrom .923



 AT

Peoria Rivermen

36-30-2-2 Tied-9th- Western Conference (76pts)
Last game:Lost 4-1 to Charlotte on Mar 31st

Leaders:

Goals: J.Cheechoo 24

Assists: T.J. Hensick 46

Points: Hensick 66

+/-: C.Fairchild +27

PIM: A.Peluso 159

Wins: J.Allen 11

GAA: Allen 2.89

Save%: Allen .916

Carver Arena

Peoria, IL

5:00 PM CDT

Radio courtesy of Ticket 760

 

 The Rampage play their final road game outside the state of Texas this evening as they take on the Rivermen in a crucial Western Conference showdown. The Rivermen sit 3 points behind the Rampage in the standings and are currently on the outside of the playoffs looking in after losing two straight this weekend. The Peoria offense is very dangerous led by TJ Hensick and recently acquired Patrick O'Sullivan. The Rampage defense will need to play mistake free hockey today. They are, however, playing their 3rd game in 3 days and are prone to giving up goals. 

 The Rampage earned a HUGE 2 points last night in a 4-3 seven round shootout victory in Rockford. After falling behind early, the Rampage scored two goals just 30 seconds apart in the second period to take a 2-1 lead. The lead was short lived, however, as the IceHogs would tie the game less than 5 minutes later. The Hogs reclaimed their lead just 2:35 later in the second and would take a 3-2 lead into the final period. After a back and forth 3rd period that saw Jacob Markstrom come up huge, once again, to preserve the one goal deficit, Jon Matsumoto would score the tying goal with just under 8 minutes left. 

After a scoreless OT, the teams would exchange shootout goals Mark Cullen and Terry Broadhurst, the shootout would go to "extra innings". After a Markstrom save on Rob Flick, Rampage forward James Wright would beat Hogs goalie Carter Hutton for the extra point.

News and Notes

• Drew Shore, just signed out of college and playing in his first professional game, picked up an assist on the game tying goal in the 3rd.
• Sean Sullivan dropped the gloves for the first time this season early in the game.
• No word yet on who will get the start in goal today. After a 46 save effort last night, I could see Markstrom getting the day off.

 The Rampage now sit 3 points clear of the final playoff spot. They have also played less than or as many games as any team immediately behind them. A win today would go a very long ways to locking up a playoff spot, barring tragedy in the final 2 weeks. Let's make it happen, boys.

LET'S GO RAMPAGE!