Rampage GDT: Rockford 12/7/16

The beloved Rampage hit the road tonight versus the once formidable Rockford IceHogs, who now occupy the Western Conference basement. Iowa awaits this weekend.

Roster/Injury Report

- Sam Jardine was suspended by the AHL for an instigator penalty late Sunday. He will miss tonight’s game.

- Rocco Grimaldi was returned to the Rampage in time for Sunday afternoon’s game vs San Jose. He put up 3 shots on goal in limited use for the Avs on Saturday night.

- Stephen Perfetto was optioned back to the Alaska Aces Monday. He spent 3 games with the Rampage and did an ok job I guess. He had a couple SOG and was -3.

- Cody Goloubef was called up to the Avs after Erik Johnson broke his leg the other day. I think this might be long term unless he consistently matches his rough first outing on Tuesday night. Whether it’s him or someone else, one defenseman from the Rampage will be up in Colorado for the next couple months at least.

- None of the Rampage wounded are on the trip. For now. Dan Weiss very obliquely hinted that might have a small chance of changing. All but Elson and Ranger have recently skated with the team in some capacity.

What we know:
UBI: O’Brien (schnozz)
LBI: Smith, Elson, Petryk (broken foot)
???: Bigras, Compher, Ranger

Fast Facts: San Jose

SAR 4 - SJ 3 (SO)

Shots: 25-44 (36.2%) St Amant led with 6
Special Teams: PP 0/1, PK 3/4
Spencer Martin saved 41/44 (.932) and 6/7 in the shootout
Goals: Nantel (2), Bourque (3), Whitney (4). Whitney and Bourke (GWG) scored in the shootout.

SJ 4 - SAR 0

Shots: 29-33 (46.8%) Whitney and Greer led with 4 apiece
Special Teams: PP 0/4, PK 3/5
Spencer Martin saved 29/33 (.879)
Goals: zilch

Preview: Rockford

The Rampage are treading water right now. Win one, lose one, back and forth. Take out the horrendous 4-game losing streak to start the year and they’re in the thick of things. To overcome that they’re going to need some healthy players to go on a run, maybe that happens soon.

Lines/Pairs from Sunday

Whitney - Vogelhuber - Sislo
Greer - Nantel - Bourque
Nunn - Henley - Grimaldi
Bourke - Belzile - St Amant

Lindholm - Goloubef
Siemens - Boikov
Lashoff - Jardine

Martin
Simpson

Scratches: Perfetto, Sanford, Frazee, Corbett, Geertsen

Lord knows what the defense is going to look like. Frightening would be a good start, unproductive is in there too. Marty will start of course. A couple things I’d like to see from the forwards are Trent Vogelhuber in a role that suits him (NOT top-6) and Cole Sanford getting a shot. Sanford has been tearing up the ECHL and San Antonio sure could use some scoring.

Schedule

Rampage at Rockford 8pm ET Wednesday on Ticket760

/ / / / / /

No conflict with the Avs, stop by and say hi.