San Antonio Rampage
10-12-0-3 23pts 13th in Western Conf.
Last game: Lost to Houston (5-1) on Dec. 11th
Leaders:
Goals: G.Rallo – 10
Assists: J.Rheault/D.Shore – 12
Points: Rheault – 19
+/-: M.Caruso - +4
PIM: E.Selleck – 88
Wins: J.Markstrom – 8
GAA: D.Grumet-Morris – 2.64
Save %: DGM - .915
Shutouts: DGM – 2
AT
Oklahoma City Barons
11-9-1-2 25pts 9th in Western Conf.
Last game: Lost to Peoria (4-2) on Dec 11th
Leaders:
Goals: J.Eberle– 14
Assists: J.Schultz – 23
Points: Schultz – 34
+/-: M.Marincin - +11
PIM: D.Byers – 93
Wins: Y.Danis – 9
GAA: Danis – 2.72
Save %: Danis - .913
Shutouts – None
Dec. 14th/15th 7:00pm CST
Cox Convention Center
Oklahoma City, OK
Radio: Ticket 760
The Rampage return to action tonight for the first of back-to-back games against the Barons. The Rampage had won four straight before losing 5-1 in Houston on Tuesday which saw the Rampage give up three goals in just over 6 minutes of the 3rd period. The Barons, meanwhile, haven’t won a game since Nov 25th and are 0-4-0-1 in their last five games.
It seems like I keep repeating myself, and that will happen with all the skill in the AHL this season, but tonight’s game, again, could very well come down to special teams play. The Barons have the #1 power play in the AHL and score at a staggering 37.2% rate at home.
On the bright side, the Rampage do have the #2 ranked penalty kill on the road, killing just over 28% of all penalties. On the even brighter side, the Barons are ranked dead last in the PK at home, killing off a dismal 74.4% of penalties. To keep this recent success against the Barons going, the Rampage are going to have to play disciplined and aggressive, hoping to stay out of the box while forcing the Barons to take bad penalties.
The Rampage will stay in OKC for a Saturday night rematch with OKC before taking the long overnight bus ride back home for a Sunday matinee with the Charlotte Checkers. The Rampage are in the middle of their toughest stretch of the season, in my opinion, playing 9 games in the next 16 games, with just three of those at home. If they can just maintain pace with the division, and should the lockout end (like I think it will) in mid-January, the second half of the season should be another fun ride.
News & Notes:
- Tyson Strachan will be out “a while” and is not traveling with the team.
- Drew Shore missed Tuesday’s game with an undisclosed illness. He should be fine and ready to go this weekend.
- Greg Rallo continues his torrid goal scoring pace. He has scored a goal in 3 straight and in 7 of his last 8 games.
- The Rampage are now responsible for ending both of Barons rookie defenseman Justin Schultz’s points streaks. They ended both his 10 gamer in a 2-0 win on Nov. 3rd and his 9 game streak in Sunday’s 3-2 win.
- For those that don’t understand why Jacob Markstrom is playing so much, get used to it. The Panthers want him to play so he’s going to play, win or lose. He is their goalie of the future and they need to know if he can handle the grind of a full season.
- Down on the farm, forward Anthony Luciani will make his season debut for the Cyclones tonight. He will wear #90. Meanwhile, Garrett Wilson is out indefinitely with a hand injury.
- To anyone, who like me, that tried listening to the game Tuesday online only to hear Jim Rome's hack replacement, I apologize. Apparently, ClearChannel feels that it's more important to play drivel instead of live hockey on the Rampage's "flagship" station. It's unfortunate and ridiculous and it's decisions like these that have put ClearChannel in a position where they are a dinosaur and have to layoff thousands of workers every year. Luckily, there are no more day games this season, so it's now a dead issue...until next season.
I will be back in the pressbox for Sunday’s game vs. Charlotte, so please follow along on twitter at @RampageNate. Thanks for all of your feedback this past week. I do this for you guys, so it’s important to me to tailor what I do to my readers/followers. Thanks for the support and LETS GO RAMPAGE!
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