GAME NOTES
BARONS GAME NOTES - MAY 7
By Jim Byers,
Oklahoma City Barons at San Antonio RampageCalder Cup Playoffs | Series “K” Western Conference Semifinals Game 3 | Series even, 1-1
May 7, 2012, 7 pm CDT | AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
Broadcast: KXY 96.1 FM
TONIGHT: After splitting the first two games at the Cox Center, the Barons continue a second-round, Western Conference semifinal in San Antonio for Game 3. The AT&T Center will also host Games 4 and 5. OKC won the previous game 5-4 on Saturday, receiving the tying goal from Magnus Paajarvi with 9.2 seconds left and the winner from Josh Green at 11:40 of overtime. The teams split 8 regular season games this season, with each going 2-2 at home. The Barons are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, while San Antonio qualified as a No. 6 seed.
SERIES SNIPPETS: Saturday’s 5-4 OT win was the Barons’ first overtime finish in 12 Calder Cup games spanning the past 2 seasons. It was also the first game in 20 regular season and playoff contests between the Barons and Rampage to go beyond regulation time tied. The Barons have out-shot the opposition in all 6 playoff games by a combined margin of 210-131. Opponents are averaging an league-low 21.83 shots per game against OKC. The Barons have scored the first goal in 5 of 6 playoff games, the only break coming on a 1-0 loss to Houston April 22. OKC has received goals from 12 different players and points from 17 of its 20 skaters in the playoffs so far.
STREAKING: Josh Green and Mark Arcobello each have 3-game goal streaks, which matches the AHL’s longest during the current playoffs. Green has tallied 4 goals and Arcobello 3 in OKC’s last 3 games. Dylan Yeo (1 goal, 3 assists), Tyler Pitlick (0G, 5A) and Teemu Hartikainen (2G, 2A) own 3-game point streaks. Pitlick’s 7 playoff points, on 2 goals and 5 assists, are tied for second among rookies in Calder Cup play.
SPECIALTY ITEMS: The Barons are 4-for-25 on the power play in the playoffs (16.0%). After going 13-for-13 on the penalty kill in the first round against Houston, the Barons have allowed 5 Rampage power play goals in 9 times shorthanded in this series. The Rampage own the league’s best power play to date in the playoffs at 12-for-31 (38.7%).
OKC-SA HISTORY: The Barons and Rampage split 8 meetings this season, with each team going 2-2 on its home ice. Each team shut out the opposition twice in the season series. The all-time regular season series spanning the past 2 seasons is even at 9-9. Counting the current playoff series, the teams have split 20 all-time meetings. OKC is 5-4 over the past 2 seasons at the AT&T Center.
TREND REVERSALS: Prior to Thursday, the Barons were undefeated in 24 games during the regular season and playoffs when scoring 4 or more goals. Thursday’s loss was just the second all season for the Barons in a game where they scored a power play goal. The Barons are 30-2-2-4 in the playoffs and regular season when tallying a power play goal. They went 1-for-3 on Thursday and 1-for-4 Saturday.
GOOD OMENS: When the Barons received a goal from a defenseman this season they went 15-2-0-2. In the playoffs, they have 1 goal from a defenseman (Dylan Yeo) in the series-ending Game 4 win vs. Houston. When Philippe Cornet lit the lamp during the regular season, the team went 18-1-0-0. In the only loss, a 3-2 setback at Milwaukee Nov. 13, Cornet accounted for both goals. Cornet also tallied in the series-clinching win over the Aeros.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Each team entered this round following their first Calder Cup series wins. The Barons topped Houston 3 games to 1, winning both road games and splitting a pair at the Cox Center. OKC is 1-1 in Calder Cup series after debuting in the AHL last season. In its third playoff series in club history, San Antonio won both home games against No. 3 seed Chicago, but dropped Games 3 and 4 at Allstate Arena. The deciding fifth game went to a second overtime before Roman Derlyuk’s goal ended the series.
Playoff Results:
Date Opp. Result OKC Goalie (GA,SV) Opp. Goalie Attn.
April 19 @ Hou W, 5-0 Danis (0, 14) Hackett (L)/Brodeur 3,158
April 20 @ Hou W, 4-1 Dans (1, 19) Hackett (L)/Brodeur 4,756
April 22 Hou L, 0-1 Danis (1, 20) Brodeur (0, 31) 2,859
April 24 Hou W, 5-2 Danis (2, 19) Brodeur (4, EN, 22) 1,922
May 3 SA L, 4-6 Danis (6, 23) Markstrom (4, 26) 2,833
May 5 SA W, 5-4-OT Danis (4, 22) Markstrom (5, 32) 2,962
Upcoming Series Schedule (all times Central):
Date Opp. Site Time Broadcast
May 10 @ SA AT&T Center 7:00 KXY 96.1 FM
May 11 @ SA AT&T Center 7:00 KXY 96.1 FM
May 13* SA Cox Center 4:00 KXY 96.1 FM
May 15* SA Cox Center 7:00 KXY 96.1 FM
* If necessary
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