Rampage Roundup (4/1/15)

1024px-San_Antonio_Rampage_2002-2006.svg

“Rampage Roundup” is a weekly feature at The Sunshine Skate to keep you in touch with your favorite future Panthers.


 

 

News:

As the college hockey season ended for some teams this week, the Florida Panthers signed entry level contracts with Kyle Rau of the University of Minnesota and Mike Matheson of Boston College.

Rau, who’s been the Captain of the Gophers for the past two seasons, had 20 goals and 21 assists in 39 games this season. The center was drafted in 2011 in the 3rd round by the Panthers (91st overall). He’s also been consistent during his college career, averaging over 40 points all four seasons.

Matheson played three seasons for Boston College, leading the team as Captain this season. He notched 25 points in 38 games this year, scoring 3 goals and picking up 22 assists. The defenseman has also been consistent at BC, with 25 and 21 points in his previous two years at the NCAA level. Matheson was drafted by the Panthers in the first round in 2012 (23rd overall).

Both Rau and Matheson are reporting to San Antonio on an amateur try-out agreement.


Summary:

The Rampage’s only games since our last Roundup were a back-to-back set against the Iowa Wild. In the eight games the two teams have played this season, the Rampage won seven times, including victories on Friday and Saturday. The struggling Wild, last in the Western Conference, picked up their only victory on December 11th.

On Friday, the 27th, neither team was able to score a goal during regular time, despite 33 SOG for the Rampage and 26 for the Wild. In overtime, the Rampage offense finally broke through, with a goal from Brett Olson only fifteen seconds into OT. It was the first time the team was scoreless after 60 minutes all season, as Michael Houser picked up his second shutout win of the year. What was even more surprising were the few penalties incurred during the game, with each team only having one power play opportunity.

Saturday’s rematch was a completely different story on all fronts – except that the Rampage skated away with a 4–1 victory. San Antonio started off the scoring with a power play goal from John McFarland, assisted by Corban Knight and Bobby Butler. Dany Heatley followed up with another power play goal only 26 seconds later, assisted by Mark Mancari, who has been quiet on the points front as of late. Despite a penalty shot for Quinton Howden at the very beginning of the second period, the middle frame remained scoreless. However, Butler got on the board with an unassisted goal in the 5th minute of the third. Wade Megan scored a shorty a little over halfway through the period, for his fourth goal of the season, assisted by Jesse Blacker. Sam Brittain was a minute and 18 seconds away from continuing his shutout streak as Olivier Archambault got the puck past him for the Wild’s only goal of the night.

The two games were night and day on the penalty front as well – with the Rampage taking advantage of two out of five power play opportunities on Saturday. Players on both teams were active and aggressive from the very beginning, as the Wild had six PP chances during the night. Shane O’Brien was suspended for three games yesterday as a result of an illegal check to the head during the first period. As a repeat offender, O’Brien will miss both games against Adirondack and next Tuesday’s game against the Barons.

The two wins in Des Moines continue the Rampage’s win streak to 8 games!


Impact Players:

After coming to relieve Michael Houser in Milwaukee, Sam Brittain continued to impress in his first official start on Saturday. He’s only allowed one goal and has a 0.978 SV%. While with the Cincinnati Cyclones earlier this season, he played in 27 games and had a 0.895 SV% and a 2.71 GAA. With eight games to go in the regular season and Colin Stevens still awaiting his AHL debut, Brittain’s definitely managed to make a case for staying with the team through the playoffs, pending Dan Ellis’ return.

Plucky up-and-comer Dany Heatley is also making a name for himself with the Rampage, with 6 goals and 2 assists in his last 9 games. It’s only a matter of time until he has the opportunity to prove himself with the Panthers. Kidding, obviously. Nonetheless, Heatley’s transition from the Norfolk Admirals has been smooth, as he’s notched more points with the Rampage in 12 games (8 points) than he did with the Admirals in 25 (2G, 5A).


Upcoming games:

On Thursday night, the Rampage have the opportunity to clinch their playoff spot with a victory against the visiting Adirondack Flames. They teams will play again on Saturday before the Rampage visit Oklahoma City for the last time next Tuesday. With 90 points, San Antonio is still in first place in the Western Conference, with the Comets and Griffins right behind, with 89 and 88 points, respectively.


Natalija can be reached for contact on Twitter.

Quantcast