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Rampage Rewind: The wrong kind of streak

November 27, 2015

Rampage Rewind: Week 7—Nov. 20-Nov. 26, 2015

Last week is one the Rampage would like to forget. Close games, lost leads and failed comeback attempts plagued the team all week, and the resulting four-game losing streak has to be weighing heavily on the team.

The Week in Review

Games
The Ontario Reign came on strong and netted three goals in the first 45 minutes of play. The Rampage answered back with three goals of its own, however, with goals from Maxime Noreau, Nikita Zadorov (PP) and Joey Hishon (PP). Hishon’s tying tally came in with just 1:36 left in the game. It took Ontario only 27 seconds of overtime to secure the win.

Despite a solid effort by the special teams, the Charlotte Checkers got the best of the Rampage in a 4-3 loss characterized by what’s become a Classic Rampage Meltdown. San Antonio was up 3-0 midway through the second period, but Charlotte picked up the scoring with four straight goals over the final 30 minutes of the game. Zadorov, Hishon, and Reid Petryk got the goals for the Rampage.

San Antonio went one-for-three on the power play in an ugly 6-3 loss to the Milwaukee Admirals. After Marc-Andre Cliche put the Rampage up by one early in the first period, the Admirals scored three unanswered goals to gain a lead which they never relinquished. Borna Rendulic twice brought San Antonio within one during the second period, but Milwaukee dominated the third, netting two more unanswered goals and sealing San Antonio’s fate.

The boys finished out the week with a back-and-forth affair against the Rockford IceHogs. Troy Bourque got the scoring started late in the first period, but a strong second period from Rockford—one that saw 17 shots aimed at Pickard—shifted the balance and put the IceHogs up 2-1. Once again, San Antonio sent the game to overtime (Michael Schumacher), but Rockford would end the night victorious thanks to a power play goal by Erik Gustafsson.

Highlights
Rampage vs. Ontario Reign, Nov. 20 (OTL, 4-3)
Rampage vs. Charlotte Checkers, Nov. 22 (L, 4-3)
Rampage at Milwaukee Admirals, Nov. 24 (L, 6-3)
Rampage at Rockford IceHogs, Nov. 25 (OTL, 3-2)

Play of the Week
“With a flick of the wrist, I got you”

Roster Transactions
Dennis Everberg cleared the waiver wire as he was returned to the Rampage from the Avalanche. While in Colorado, Everberg struggled to find his game. He recorded no goals nor assists in his 15 games with the team, and managed only nine shots on net. Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy remarked that Everberg had moved away from the type of play that made him such a success last season, asking Everberg to get back to being a physical player.

Garret Meurs did a quick turn-around, coming back to the Rampage after being reassigned to the Komets a week ago.

Calvin Pickard was reassigned to the Rampage after Avalanche starting goaltender Semyon Varlamov was reactivated from injured reserved. Pickard appeared in two games, both coming in relief of Reto Berra. In total, he played 47 minutes, faced 25 shots and gave up four goals.

Spencer Martin returned to Fort Wayne on the heels of Pickard’s reassignment. Martin had a spectacular showing in his professional debut with a .921 save percentage and 2.76 goals against average. He played in four games, coming away with a 2-1-1-0 record.

Injuries
Mikko Rantanen (undisclosed; missed two games last week, but expected to be in line up this weekend)

The Week Ahead

Games
The Rampage continue the Central Division road trip with a back-to-back set in Chicago on Saturday (November 28, 7:00 pm CT) and Sunday (November 29, 3:00 pm CT). The Wolves took the Ws in both of the two previous meetings with the Rampage this season, and Chicago currently sits in second place in the division, nipping at the heels of the Milwaukee Admirals. Chicago has won seven of its past ten games. Familiar faces include Jordan Caron and Andre Benoit.

San Antonio will then enjoy a five-day break before returning to action next Friday night back home.

Storylines

Coming up empty
The Rampage is currently on a four-game losing streak, the first time the team has lost more than two games in a row. While the team sits comfortably in second place, the Pacific Division leading Ontario Reign continue to pull farther ahead. Ontario’s .800 win percentage is good enough for first in the Western Conference and third in the league.

Finding a way
Despite the losses, San Antonio has managed to get points in two of the four games this past week by forcing overtime. The team leads the league in overtime games at nine and overtime losses at six.

Noreaulicious
Maxime Noreau continues to put on a clinic in scoring. He now has 15 points (4g, 11a) in 17 games, tied for third in the league among defensemen (with TJ Brennan) and for second overall on the Rampage (with Colin Smith).