Gameday! Rampage @ Texas: Mar. 8th 7:30pm

San Antonio Rampage

25-25-1-4 (55pts) - 14th in Western Conf.

Last game: Beat Chicago (2-1) on Mar. 2nd

Leaders:
Goals: G.Rallo – 17
Assists: Z.Hamill - 17
Points: Hamill – 33
+/-: Hamill - +12
PIM: Selleck – 165

Wins: D.Grumet-Morris – 9
GAA: DGM – 2.76
Save %: DGM - .914
Shutouts: DGM – 2

AT

Texas Stars

33-16-4-5 (75pts) - 1st in Western Conf.

Last game: Lost to Chicago (4-3) on Mar. 5th

Leaders:
Goals: M.Fraser– 27
Assists: C.Sceviour/T.Morin – 20
Points: Fraser– 39
+/-: Sceviour - +14
PIM: L.Gazdic – 68
Wins: C.Nilstorp – 17
GAA: Nilstorp– 2.18
Save %: Nilstorp - .913
Shutouts – Nilstorp - 4

Mar. 8th 7:30pm CST

Cedar Park Center

Cedar Park, TX

Radio: Ticket 760

The Rampage, battling for a playoff spot with just 21 games remaining, head to their "house of horrors" for a Friday night tilt in Cedar Park against the rival Stars. The Stars are led by Matt Fraser (Edit: Fraser was called up to Dallas today), second in the AHL in goals with 27, and goalie Christopher Nilstorp who has , for lack of better terms, dominated the Rampage this season.

Nilstorp is 4-0 in five games this season against the silver & black, allowing just 4 goals on 108 shots. His stat line reads as follows:

5 GP  4-0  0.85 GAA .963 Save % 2 Shutouts

Expected Rampage starter Dov Grumet-Morris, meanwhile, has struggled against the Stars this season going 0-3 with a 3.04 GAA and .915 save %.

Overall, the Rampage are 1-6 vs. the Stars this season getting outscored 20-8 in the 7 games. In Cedar Park, the Rampage are 0-4 this season and have been outscored 12-2.

The Stars possess a top five PP unit and simply do not give up leads when scoring first. This season, Texas is 17-1-0-4 when getting the first goal. The Rampage need to play disciplined and aggressive offensively. At this point of the season every point is crucial. They can't afford to play tentative and give up an early goal or two.


News & Notes:

- The Rampage welcomed back a familiar face yesterday, signing Evan Barlow to a PTO. Barlow, who was recently released from a PTO in Hershey, put up 10-20-30 and a +9 in 57 games with the Rampage last season. Nice addition for the 3rd line.
- The Rampage also brought up a couple of players from Cincinnati to fill in for all of the players that recently departed for the NHL. David MacDonald (60GP 7-15-22 +7) was signed to a PTO and David Pacan (53GP 14-34-48 +11) was recalled.

- For those keeping score (since Sat. night):
Out (in Florida): Markstrom, Yonkman, Rheault
In: Foster, MacDonald, Pacan, Barlow

- Alex Petrovic is expected to be in the lineup tonight after missing the last 4 weeks with an undisclosed injury.
   My speculation is that he may not be here long. With injuries and poor performances mounting up in Florida, I could see a Petro/Yonkman swap once Alex is back in game shape. Edit: No Petro tonight per Dan Weiss. Still iffy for Sunday. Shooting for a Wednesday return.

- Something else to keep an eye on today is the Tyson Strachan vs. Brendan Shanahan news. Strachan took a game misconduct in last night's embarrassment in Washington D.C. for a late hit on Jason Chimera. He could possibly face a suspension, which means the Panthers could pluck another d-man before tonight's game. Edit: No hearing for Strachan. Looks like we dodged a bullet here.



If any of my Rampage faitfhul are making the trek up to Cedar Park tonight, be careful and have fun. Leave early (approx. 2:00pm) and stay out of trouble. We have some amazing fans, lets show that off when we head out to the other team's building.

For those watching/listening/following along from home, I might be on Twitter tonight. We are without children for a week and a half, so there may be plans I'm not privy to. But if there are, be rest assured they don't include Rampage hockey. #4Wins4Years