“Rampage Roundup” is a weekly feature at The Sunshine Skate to keep you in touch with your favorite future Panthers.
Summary:
The Rampage finished 2014 with a rough string of back-to-back losses following their Friday (December 26th) win over the Stars. They played their final home game of the year against the Oklahoma City Barons on Saturday, December 27th, resulting in a 2–1 OT loss. The Rampage’s sole goal came from Brett Olson in the second period with a backhand from the slot, assisted by Bobby Butler and Alex Petrovic. Oklahoma City came back early in the third with a goal by Connor Jones to send the game into overtime, where Brandon Davidson scored with less than a minute to go on Michal Houser (who had a phenomenal 37 saves). It was the Rampage’s second OT loss against the Barons in the five OT games they’ve played this season.
The team came back the next night to play the Stars again, this time in Cedar Park, where the Stars exacted revenge for last Friday’s loss with a 6–3 win. Scoring started early with a goal by Texas’ Gemel Smith only 23 seconds into the game followed by a Rampage powerplay goal by Bobby Butler only two minutes later. The PPG was the first in 21 opportunities in eight games and Butler’s third of the season. Garrett Wilson scored another power play goal at the beginning of the second period to keep the Rampage even with the Stars, starting off an eventful middle frame that saw two more goals by the Stars and Jesse Blacker’s first of the season. A quiet third period ended with an empty netter by the Stars’ Brett Ritchie and Dan Ellis seventh loss of the season.
The Rampage bounced back immediately with a 8–4 thrashing of the Utica Comets today in the first game of 2015. Eight different players scored a goal in today’s game, marking it the season high for goals this season, tying the franchise record. Eight players, including Rocco Grimaldi, Brett Olson, and Wade Megan also had multiple point nights.
The first period was tight, with multiple power play opportunities on both sides but only eight SOG until Shane O’Brien broke through at the end of the frame with a quick shot at the point. Play exploded during the second period, in which the Rampage scored six goals and the Comets three. Two of the Rampage’s goals came on the power play – the first by Connor Brickley and the second by Jesse Blacker. Utica stayed close, with no more than a two goal difference, until the middle of the second period, when Bobby Butler, Drew Shore, and Andrew Yogan scored within three minutes of each other to give the Rampage a 6–3 lead. The third period saw more measured play on both sides, with Utica’s Nicklas Jensen scoring in the eighth minute, followed by Alex Petrovic’s nail in the coffin with a little over five minutes to go in the game. Dan Ellis bounced back from the loss against Texas to make 28 saves while former Panthers prospect Jacob Markstrom allowed five of the eight Rampage goals for only his second loss of the season.
Impact players:
In a rough game against the Barons that had multiple and varied penalties from both sides, Steven Kampfer was assessed a match penalty for a check to the head during the second period. He was suspended by the AHL for one game the next day, with Mackenzie Weegar and Jesse Blacker replacing him and a resting Shane O’Brien in the lineup. Blacker took advantage of his opportunity on Sunday to score his first goal of the season and his first as a Rampage player. He returned to the lineup today and continued his scoring streak with a goal during the second period and the primary assist on Bobby Butler’s goal.
Andrew Yogan returned from injury in today’s game, playing for the first time since November and scoring his third goal of the season. Bobby Butler also impressed with a goal and two assists, continuing his five game point streak (3G, 5A since December 12th). Alex Petrovic carried over his solid performances in the last games of 2014 with the final goal against the Comets. In effect, only four players didn’t notch a point and only one of those (Kampfer) had a negative plus/minus rating. It was an impressive outing and surely a confidence boost as the Rampage look to stabilize following last weekend and focus on the month ahead.
Upcoming games:
The Rampage continue the first week of January with an insanely busy schedule – four more games in six days. They’ll remain on the road until January 10th, starting with a visit to the Toronto Marlies tomorrow night. The Rampage will take on the Marlies (13–15–5–0) on consecutive nights this weekend, hoping to keep the momentum against the 12th ranked team in the Western Conference. After a couple of days off, the team will then face off against the fourth-ranked Adirondack Flames (20–13–1–1) on January 6th and the Rochester Americans (13–19–1–1) the next night before heading home.
Video Recap:
Check out the highlights from December 27th, against the Oklahoma City Barons
Natalija can be reached for contact on Twitter.
