Marlies Blank Rampage In San Antonio
9 years ago
I you to take a minute to absorb this photo. This is a game in San Antonio, Texas. Against a team from Toronto, affiliate of a team from Toronto. The San Antonio Rampage are the affiliate of the Florida Panthers. Yet here we are, looking at their biggest fan; a screaming dude in a Los Angeles Kings jersey.
I don’t understand it either. What I do understand is the sixty minutes of hockey that was played, which culminated in a 3-0 win for the Toronto Marlies.
The Rundown
The Marlies actually controlled the first two periods of this game, but goaltending was key to keeping this one close. Both Antoine Bibeau and MIchael Houser stood on their heads, but it was the latter that cracked first. Midway through the third period, Kevin Marshall set up Brandon Kozun for his fourth goal of the season.
Kozun’s goal ended up being the only one of the game scored on a goalie. Eventually the Rampage opted for an extra attacker, but Carter Ashton made them pay not once, but twice for the decision.
Blue Warrior
Antoine Bibeau appears to have two modes – blowout or shutout. It’s completely unsurprising when he lets in seven goals, but it’s just as unsurprising when he stops forty pucks. Tonight, we saw his forth shutout of the season. This means that 26% of his professional games to date have ended in him not allowing a goal.
It’s a small sample size, but it’s a heck of a start. There’s inconsistency, but when you’re looking at a goaltender that is too young to drink in the United States, the fact he can hit his peaks is more important than the fact that he hits the odd valley. A thirty save performance tonight gts him the blue warrior.
Notes
- This win gives the Marlies a winning record for the first time since October 19th, and is their ninth consecutive game with a point. That’s a pretty good stretch.
- In fact, I’m not saying that this team is gearing up to win another division championship (15 points is a lot of ground to catch up on), but hey, they’re four points out of a playoff spot now.
- The team was a bit more disciplined, only giving up four powerplays, none of which came after the second period.
- Good game for Carter Ashton. Yes, his goals came on empty nets, but he also had four other shots and was on for Brandon Kozun’s tally. On the flipside, Kozun picked up both assists on both of Ashton’s goals.
- Brad Ross also had six shots, and mixed it up a bit with Steve Kampfer, leading to them both getting cross-checking penalties.
- The Marlies will play their next game in Charlotte on Thursday.
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