“Rampage Roundup” is a weekly feature at The Sunshine Skate to keep you in touch with your favorite future Panthers.
Summary:
The Rampage had a difficult week as they suffered two losses to the Texas Stars. The first was on Thursday at home and the other last night as they kicked off the beginning of their rodeo road trip. The highlight of the week came on Saturday, when the team was able to edge out the Oklahoma City Barons in a 5–3 victory.
The Stars and the Rampage faced off for the fourth time in seven games on Thursday, February 5th during the Rampage’s Pink Week. The Rampage started the game strong, with a goal by Mark Mancari off of a Stars turnover from a pass by Connor Brickley early in the first period. The Stars began dominating the puck late in the first and while they weren’t able to capitalize on their power play opportunities yet, the Stars’ Matej Stransky scored the equalizer 14 minutes into the second period. A goal by Julius Honka a few minutes later gave the Stars the lead going into the third period. The Rampage were able to score an equalizer of their own with a goal by Garrett Wilson, his 16th of the season. The score held for barely three minutes until the Stars managed to crack the Rampage’s penalty kill once again, this time with a one-timer by Greg Rallo. The Stars extended their lead later in the period with a goal by Oleksiak, followed by an empty netter by Brendan Ranford with less than 20 seconds to go. The game ended with a 5–2 score after Michael Houser had another rough night, allowing four goals on 28 shots faced.
A bright moment in the week came as the Rampage took on their (other) northern neighbors on Saturday, February 7th when the Oklahoma City Barons came down for a visit during the “Pink in the Rink” Night. At the end of a tight first period, in which Dan Ellis was stretched every-which-way, OKC took the lead with a goal by Brad Hunt. Entering the second period, they followed it up with a shorthanded goal by Curtis Hamilton, the Barons’ first shorty of the year. Little more than halfway through the period, Vincent Trocheck notched a shorthanded goal of his own to cut the Barons’ lead in half. A few minutes later, Brett Olson’s 7th goal of the season made it a tie game until OKC reclaimed the lead with a goal by Ryan Hamilton. The Rampage returned to the ice for the third period, dominating play early. The team scored three goals in under two minutes, starting with a goal by John McFarland, followed by a wrister from Shane O’Brien. Thirty seconds later, Bobby Butler made the score 5–3, picking up his 100th career goal.
The Rampage began their monster road trip with a short trek to visit the Stars once again on Tuesday. In a spectacularly awful performance by the visitors, the Stars were able to score five unanswered goals through the first two periods, including goals by Oleksiak and Rallo who scored only a few nights earlier. Shane O’Brien was able to get the Rampage on the board with a powerplay goal more than halfway through the third for the only San Antonio goal of the night. The Stars proved they completely cracked the Rampage’s penalty kill, scoring three powerplay goals in five PP opportunities, including the final goal of the night with less than four minutes to go. While Dan Ellis started in goal, both he and Michael Houser – who replaced him in the second period – allowed three goals each. The Stars were able to avenge their previous losses this season and make a move toward playoff contention.
Impact Players:
In a relatively lackluster week for his team, Shane O’Brien was able to start a three game point streak. The veteran defenseman picked up an assist last Thursday against Texas, a goal and an assist against the Barons, and the lone goal last night. A frequent call-up for the Panthers, O’Brien nonetheless has 8 goals and 11 assists in 32 games with the Rampage this season. He also leads the Rampage in penalty minutes, having acquired 99 PIMs so far this year.
The Rampage defense has struggled to adjust from the absence of Alex Petrovic and Steven Kampfer (who are currently with the Panthers) and this becomes exceptionally noticeable during the penalty kill. Each has picked up an assist since they were called up, with Kampfer also contributing to the Panthers PK. The Rampage have also recalled Shayne Taker from the Cyclones for the first time this season.
Vincent Trocheck has been playing well since being sent down to the Rampage, with two goals and five assists in eight games, including a goal and an assist against the Barons. He suffered an apparent upper body injury in the first period against the Stars last night but was back on the ice for the second. Hopefully, the injury will not be a factor on the road trip going forward.
Upcoming Games:
The Rampage will spend their next ten games on the road, starting with back-to-back games against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday, February 13th and Saturday, the 14th. They’ll then travel to Rockford to face off against the Ice Hogs on Sunday and next Wednesday, the 18th. The team will have to regroup following these two tough losses to the Stars as the playoff race tightens, with only five points separating the fourth ranked Rampage with the 10th ranked Stars in the Western Conference.
Natalija can be reached for contact on Twitter.
