Third game of the season, and third time the Rampage have been outshot (wildly, 34-16).
The night got off to a solid start with San Antonio forward James Wright scoring his first goal of the season 4 minutes into the game. Quinton Howden was credited with the assist – his first career point – and Andre Deveaux recieved the other, his first point with the Rampage. The Barons answered back with two goals to finish the first frame, from Martin Marincin and Justin Schultz, respectively.
The next period was all Barons.
While the Rampage were able to tie it with a Greg Rallo goal, assisted by Howden and Drew Shore, the offense would generate only a single shot in the period as the Barons assaulted Jacob Markstrom (above in action with the Cats) with 16 shots of their own. Teemu Hartikainen scored his first goal of the season, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scoring his first AHL point with an assist, ten minutes into the second period. Eight minutes later, Jordan Eberle scored his first goal (and point) of the season. The Rampage failed to put up much of a fight in the third, and Justin Schultz scored his second goal of the night, (both goals were shorthanded), with the empty net. The Rampage were outshot 34-16.
- Yes, the Oklahoma City Barons have a lot of good talent. But getting outshot by 18, and failing to surpass eight shots in a single period is inexcusable. During the off-season, talented AHL forwards were bought in to help the young prospects reach their potential, and yet the Rampage have been completely outworked by their opponents in all three games (including the game they won). Something needs to change, because Greg Rallo being the only player with more than one shot isn’t going to cut it.
- The offense wasn’t the only awful factor today, the defense was no where in the second period. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and the rest of the Barons top line were allowed to enter the offensive zone and make a five-on-five look like a powerplay. Again, yes the Barons are talented, but so are the Rampage, right?
- The Rampage’s powerplay went 0-for-4. Good for the Rampage for keeping out of the box with only one call, which came in the first, but where is the scoring? The AHL doesn’t record powerplay shots, but most of the Rampage’s time on the powerplay was in the first, and that period they only had eight shots! Eight shots in a single period, when they had three powerplays!
- The only good news tonight was Jacob Markstrom. While he allowed four goals off 33 shots (.879 Sv%), he looked solid in net against a team that was allowed to enter the offensive zone as they pleased and the game would have been a lot worst if he wasn’t on top of his game.
- Justin Vaive was in tonight, while John McFarland was benched for the second straight game. If the Rampage don’t start him on Saturday, he should be on the first bus or plane to Cincinnati, because he needs playing time.
Frome the ECHL:
The Cincinnati Cyclones lost in overtime 3-2 to the Toledo Walleye. Brian Foster was in net and made 31 saves. No Panthers prospects scored.
The Rampage return home to play the Milwaukee Admirals at 8:00 PM EST on Saturday night.