Faceoff Factor

Minor Match-ups

Eliason | Minor Leagues (ECHL, AHL, etc)

Nov 11, 12:53 PM | Hype this story!

AHL Game of the Week

San Antonio Rampage (8-4-1) at Milwaukee Admirals (8-4-1)
Thursday, 6:00 PM ET

The Bradley Center will play home to the biggest game in the Western Conference’s West Division this week, as the visiting Rampage come to town just one point ahead of the Admirals for second place in the division.

San Antonio is led by the AHL’s October Goalie of the Month Josh Tordjman. In his first six games Tordjman went 5-0 with a 1.94 GAA and a 93.7 save percentage, stopping 148 of 158 shots on the month. He was twice named the first star of a game and became the only goalie in Rampage history to win five consecutive decisions. The 22 year-old Montreal native is 6-1 in eight games on the season, with a 2.48 GAA and a 91.7 save percentage.

The Rampage have also added seven-year NHL veteran David Aebischer. The goalie, who was signed by the Coyotes on July 19th, had only made one appearance for Phoenix while backing up Mikael Tellqvist and Alex Auld.

26 year-old left winger Jon DiSalvatore leads the team in scoring with 14 points in 15 games with four goals and 10 assists. As he’s getting long in the tooth for the AHL, DiSalvatore has to hope his good play earns him a chance to help the last place Coyotes soon.

The Rampage, despite having the second most points in the West Division’s standings, have only outscored their opponents 43-40 on the season and may be playing above their heads. Even with their lack of dominance on the scoreboard, the Rampage live up to their name on the ice with a Western Conference leading 384 penalty minutes.

San Antonio’s style of play is a direct contrast to their hosts Milwaukee. The Admirals are tied for last in the Western Conference with just 181 penalty minutes on the season. But, the Admirals have been the more impressive of the two teams despite their third-place status, outscoring opponents 40-27 and allowing the second fewest goals in the conference.

Finnish goalie Pekka Rinne is tied for the league lead with 11 games started and has compiled a 6-5 record with a 2.27 GAA and 92.0 save percentage with one shutout on the season.

Center and playmaker Rich Peverly leads the team with 14 points in just 10 games since being reassigned by the Predators on November 6th, tallying three goals and 11 assists. The Ontario native led the Admirals in scoring last season (66-60-38-68) and plus-minus (+9). The team’s two other top centers, Matt Ellison (13-5-7-12) and Cal O’Reilly (13-4-8-12) round out the points leaders.

Defensemen Janne Niskata and Alex Henry are tied with Ellison for the team lead in plus-minus with a +5 rating, and Niskata leads the team with three power play goals.

The Admirals look like the better team on paper. If they can use their talent to dictate the style of play on Thursday they should come out on top, but San Antonio’s rough attitude and manner may very well throw Milwaukee off their game and lead to a close and hard-fought Rampage win.

ECHL Game of the Week

Stockton Thunder (6-4-0) at Victoria Salmon Kings (6-3-0)
Wednesday, 9:05 PM ET

Two of the top teams in the National Conference square off in a big interdivisonal match-up in Victoria—a meeting of an irresistible force and an immovable object.

The Thunder limped out of the gate, scoring only five goals in their first three games. All that would change on October 24th when 2005 NHL first round selection Ryan O’Marra joined the club. O’Marra and former Oilers defenseman Sebastien Bisaillon have combined for 12 points (12-9-3-12) during the team’s current 5-1-0 run, driving the Thunder’s offense and outscoring opponents at a 29-16 clip.

Stockton is 6-1-0 in their last seven, averaging 4.1 goals per game during that time, and the team features five players averaging at least a point per game this season:

Things will get interesting Wednesday when the Thunder’s high-powered attack runs headlong into Victoria goalie Julien Ellis. Ellis’ 2.99 GGA doesn’t appear impressive, but the Salmon Kings’ netminder has been standing on his head this season. He’s got a 92.5 save percentage, is averaging a jaw dropping 37.2 saves per game, and is 4-1 through five starts.

Ellis’ was truly phenomenal in his last start. On Saturday the 21 year-old goalie made 47 saves in a 2-1 win over the Utah Grizzlies, including a highlight-reel 2-on-0 stop in the third period to preserve the Salmon Kings’ one goal lead.

While the Thunder should provide Ellis with plenty of shots to face, the Salmon Kings have another hot hand on the other side of the puck that should give Stockton something to worry about on defense. Forward Ash Goldie is the current ECHL Player of the Week after collecting seven goals and two assists in Victoria’s three game home sweep of Bakersfield. Goldie’s great home series included a hat trick that accounted for all three of the Salmon Kings’ goals in their 3-2 win this past Wednesday. Goldie even knocked in the game winner with 12.2 seconds remaining.

Both teams are in second place in their division and have 12 points on the season, but the Salmon Kings are going to need Ellis to stay red hot if they want to keep the game close, as they are going to have a hard time limiting scoring opportunities for Stockton’s excellent offense.