Aeros v. San Antonio Rampage - Game 32

The temptation is take Coach Constantine's approach to this game and concede that it was a weird game that you expect to be weird due to the time off and just move on to tomorrow.

But there are a few grievances that need airing, so let's gather 'round ye olde Festivus pole and get to it:

First of all, while I felt like the defense failed the goalies at times, Constantine felt the goalies weren't making saves. On reflection, I'd say it was a mix. Brusty started the game and looked slow on the first two goals, just like the rest of the team.

The two goals on Schaefer were tougher. One, Albers let Goertzen just stand there at the top of the crease, which allowed him to bang the first goal five hole. Granted, it was a PP goal, but if you're gonna stand there next to an opponent who is hovering over your goalie, you need to make life difficult for him.

In fact, I was watching Paul's coverage of Goertzen and thinking, "Uh oh. You need to be getting that guy out of there, Alby." And then boom. Goal. Frankly, it was an Ambien game for Paul across the board. The kind of game where you lay awake thinking through all the stuff you got wrong and wish you had some Ambien to just knock you the hell out.

The second goal on Nolan, they just drew him to one side and he was down and couldn't get back across for a shot to the open side. That's a little harder... especially on a PK... to make sure a d-man is covering both sides.

Bottom line, the Aeros played like they ate too much ham and potatoes, hadn't practiced for 3 days, and just weren't firing on all cylinders, and the Rampage played like a team hungry for a road win that could smell blood in the water.

Mojzis still looks like he's playing on some other team out there. Maverick forwards are sometimes worth it, like Kolanos, but maverick defensemen are just scary. That's all I'm saying about that.

The PK was terrible, letting in 3 of 6 opportunities for the Rampage. So much for not sweating the PK anymore. I take that back. Hockey gods smote me again.

Ah, that's enough grievances. I'm getting depressed.

Now for the feats of strength:

The three goals the Aeros did get were awfully pretty:

• Locker's was a sweet "bottle popper" over Tordjman's shoulder glove side (from Lammers and Noreau).
  
• Schultz's first goal was a bit of a breakaway with one man hanging all over him, but he held on to the puck and then flipped the puck into the top of the net, seemingly with one hand on his stick, though I can't quite figure out how he did it. It was a jaw dropper for sure.
  
• Schultzie's second was on a play the guys had been trying to set up over and over and over during a 2 minute 3-on-5 opportunity. They'd been trying to draw the goalie to one side and get him to commit, and then pass to the open side and pop it in before he can get back. Honest to god, the whole 2 minute penalty was them trying to set this play up and oddly enough, it didn't work until the penalties were over and both teams were at full strength.
  

Huge crowd there tonight, and a strong SA contingent as I heard lots of promotional cowbells ringing after their goals. Always nice to have a big crowd, but you kinda hope the team shows up a little better. Oh well.

I'm seeing progress in Falk's game, too. He still had a few "oh shit" moments tonight but he also had a few nice plays to feed the puck up the ice to help get some scoring chances that might otherwise have gotten clogged up in the neutral zone. That was a terrible sentence but you get my point.

Love had a little row with Keefe that was feisty but short and I'd say Keefe edged him as he got his jersey over his head and pounded away for a bit, but the crowd loved it anyway. Olvecky and Murray fought as well, but it wasn't quite as enthusiastic.

Scratches were Stoner, Madsen, and Kassian. Stoner is hurt. Not sure about Madsen. Presumably Kassian is a healthy scratch. Notable about that is that Love, usually a defenseman, is still playing forward.

Aeros are on the road first thing in the morning to Quad Cities for a game tomorrow night, @ Peoria on Sunday afternoon, and then they're back home against Lake Erie on Tuesday for the last time until Jan 16.

Oh yeah, and there were some nearly-nekkid ladies. You'll have to read about that somewhere else. None of them fell from the towering heights of their stiletto heels, so that part of the show failed miserably in my opinion.

Royal's blog of the game
Andrew's Chron article