Photo by Darren Abate.
The San Antonio Rampage have hovered anywhere from two to eight points behind the division leading Oklahoma City Barons for most of the 2014-15 season. Tonight, they have a chance to pull into a tie for first place with a regulation win in OKC. The Rampage would still trail the Barons, however, as the Oklahoma City holds a five game lead in the first tie-breaker (Regulation + OT Wins-ROW).
The Rampage are 7-2-0-1 in their last ten games, taking 15 of a possible 20 points (.750) while the Barons have leveled off from their fantastic post New-Years run, by going 5-5 in their last ten games. Adding to their troubles, the Barons leading scorer–and 5th in the AHL– Andrew Miller (25g-31a-56 pts) was called up to Edmonton earlier in the week.
The Rampage meanwhile will be without Dany Heatley who was left in San Antonio to rest up for the back-to-back matchup at home vs. Hamilton. Garrett Wilson will also be a game time decision after missing Tuesday’s 9-3 win over Charlotte with a minor lower body injury.
After tonight’s battle for the West Division perch, the Rampage will jump on a bus for an eight hour ride back to San Antonio before taking on the eighth place Hamilton Bulldogs twice in a 21 hour span on Saturday and Sunday. Michael Houser will be in net for two of the three games with either recently reassigned Sam Brittain or newly signed Colin Stevens getting the call for their AHL debut in the 3rd game.
Notes:
- Don’t look now, but the Texas Stars are starting to look like the Texas Stars again. Jack Campbell has turned back into Jack Campbell and the Stars now sit just four points behind San Antonio and six back of OKC coming into tonight’s action.
- The Florida Panthers announced on Wednesday that they will be taking their ball and going to Portland, Maine once this season comes to a close. With this being the best team in franchise history, we need to support the players that are here now and worry about next season…well, next season. Until then…(NSFW)
You can listen to all of this weekend’s action on Ticket760 with Dan Weiss. Also, be sure to tune into Running With the Herd Live on Monday at 7pm CT for a recap of the weekend, a look ahead to possible playoff matchups, and our thoughts on this whole affiliation sadness.