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Rampage Rewind: Back on top

November 20, 2015

Rampage Rewind: Week 6—Nov. 13-Nov. 20, 2015

If the San Antonio Rampage wanted to make a statement about the team’s identity as a winner, this past week could not have gone any better. Three games. Three wins. The Rampage outscored its opponents 13 goals to seven, and despite a shootout scare against Stockton, San Antonio dominated all facets of play. As a result, the Rampage is back to first in the Pacific Division with nine wins, one regulation loss and four overtime losses.

The Week in Review

Games
The three-game home stand started off on Friday against the last place Stockton Heat. What should have been an easy win turned into a by-the-wire win in the shootout. It was also littered with penalties as the teams registered 19 infractions between them for a total of 50 minutes. Each team converted on one power play opportunity, and Stockton scored a short-handed goal in the third to send the game into overtime. Five minutes of three-on-three was a back-and-forth affair with each goaltender coming up big. Colin Smith, Mikko Rantanen and Joey Hishon all scored in the shoot out, and with Roman Will stopping one of the three Heat shooters, the Rampage skated away with the win.

Sunday afternoon brought the division rivals Texas Stars into town and saw Spencer Martin make his professional debut in net for the Rampage. He was certainly put to the test as Texas peppered him with 47 shots on net, 46 of which he stopped. Maxim Noreau got the scoring started early with a power play goal just 1:22 into the first. Chris Bigras followed that up just four minutes later with a sleek shot from the point; Cliche got his second assist of the night on the goal. The Stars dominated the second period with Gemel Smith cutting the Rampage lead in half just 2:36 into the middle frame. Michael Schumacher extended the Rampage lead late in the third, however, with assists from Trevor Cheek and Samuel Henley.

Patrick Bordeleau returned from his suspension for a Tuesday morning Cool School Day tilt against the Stars. Unlike previous meetings with Texas, this game was all Rampage. Martin manned the net again, but he was not quite as busy this time around, facing only 24 shots through three periods, stopping all but two in the third period. Five of San Antonio’s 29 shots made it past Stars goaltender Jack Campbell with Duncan Siemens and Reid Petryk getting their first goals of the season. Rantanen had a three-assist night, and Andrew Agozzino extended his scoring ways to a team-leading seven goals and 16 points. He now sits seventh in the league in scoring despite playing anywhere from four to seven fewer games than the guys ahead of him.

Highlights
Rampage vs. Heat, Nov. 13 (W, 5-4 SO)
Rampage vs Stars, Nov. 15 (Win, 3-1)
Rampage vs. Stars, Nov. 17 (Win, 5-2)

Play of the Week
“He’s got the magic hands”

Roster Transactions
Forward Garret Meurs was returned to Fort Wayne on Monday, Nov. 16th. In his ten days with the team, he appeared in only two games, often being scratched—sometimes even in favor of moving a defenseman into his spot on wing. Needless to say, he struggled during his time with the team.

The Week Ahead

Games
Friday (Nov. 20, 7:30 pm CST) brings the Ontario Reign (8-2-2-0) into town for the teams’ third meeting of the season. This will be the first night of a back-to-back for Ontario. The Reign is biting at the heels of the Rampage for top spot in the Pacific Division, and while they aren’t scoring quite as well as San Antonio (33 goals for compared to San Antonio’s 49), Ontario is far more stingy in giving up the goals with a league-low 19 goals against. The Rampage will need to tighten up the defense if the boys want to get their first win against the division rival.

The team has Saturday night off and resumes play on Sunday (Nov. 22, 4:00 pm CST), facing off against the Charlotte Checkers (7-7-0-0) for the first time this season. Charlotte sits in fifth in the Central Division. Charlotte has a familiar face on the team in T.J. Hensick (1g, 6a in 12 games).

On Tuesday (Nov. 24, 7:00 pm CST), the Rampage hits the road for the first game of a four-game road trip and the first night of a back-to-back set. First up is the Milwaukee Admirals (9-4-1-1) which holds down third place in the Central. The Admirals are a tough team, currently sitting third in the league in penalty minutes.

Wednesday (Nov. 25, 7:00 pm CST), San Antonio has a Thanksgiving Eve tilt against the Rockford IceHogs which sit right behind the Admirals in the Central. The IceHogs feature former Avalanche Kyle Cumiskey, who has one goal and one assist in five games.

Storylines

Making History
A number of Rampagers hit some milestones recently. Maxim Noreau scored his 200th point. Hubert Labrie played in his 150th professional game, while Marc-Andre Cliche played in his 500th. And, of course, Spencer Martin made his professional debut. His 46 saves set the season record for the Rampage.

Score Me a River
Andrew Agozzino just won’t stop scoring. In addition to being seventh in AHL scoring, he leads the league in points per game at 1.78. Who’s second? Nick Cousins of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at 1.36 points per game (5g, 10a, 11 games).