Oklahoma City Barons Rout Chicago 6-2 to keep pressure on San Antonino

Their was no question that the Barons were looking to catch up to the Rampage and tie them for the West Division. Despite the Rampage win, the Barons were no match for the Chicago Wolves as the stay within 2 points of the division leading Barons. This also takes OKC to 3-2 as they are 5 games through the longest home-stand of the season as the Barons have also had wins over the Texas Stars & Toronto Marlies during this stretch.

It was a big night for Ryan O'Merra (3 Assists), Liam Reddox (2 Goals) and Alexander Giroux (2 Assists) as the attack minded Barons never held the Wolves out of their sight as the Barons went up 2-0 late in the first and never looked back for the rest of the night.

In addition, Martin Gerber who was brought in because of his Experience at all levels in the NHL, AHL & in Europe also had 35 saves in a game that had a lot of flow and shots as the Barons out-shot the Wolves 43-37 where both sides had to make some key saves for the Barons to keep the lead all night long.

Despite the win, the Rampage also won their game 3-2 over Rockford to keep the lead. With the Barons not hitting the ice again until next Friday on November 19, the Barons have temporally lost their chance to jump over the Rampage to take over the West Division Lead.

The Next time the Barons hit the ice is on 11/19 against the Texas Stars, then the team will wrap up the home-stand with a pair of games against the Milwaukee Admirals on 11/21 & 23.

San Antonio will now have a chance to gain some breathing room on top of the West with games on Sunday afternoon against the Chicago Wolves on Sunday, then a special Field Trip Game for local Grade School Kids in the area on Wednesday the 17th against the Peoria Rivermen.

Oklahoma City Barons VS. Chicago Wolves Highlights

OKC VS. Chicago Post Game Reaction

Game Story from Ryan Aber of the The Daily Oklahoman

From Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: The first period had been a problem for the Barons for much of the season.

But Friday against Chicago, the Barons broke through early, let the Wolves back into it, then controlled the 3rd period to come away with a 6-2 win in front of 3,601 at the Cox Convention Center.

"It's something we've focused on," Barons Winger Liam Reddox said. "We've talked about it in the room. It's nice to get a couple of goals there early."

Once again, Reddox played a big part.

He scored 3:24 into the game on a shorthanded breakaway to put the Barons ahead. Reddox has two of the three Barons Shorthanded goals this season.

Later in the period, Colin Macdonald put the Barons up 2-0. It was a nice change of pace for the Barons from their early struggles as of late. The Barons have allowed goals in the first 5:35 in the last six games.

A big part of the Barons early game success was because of Martin Gerber. Gerber stopped all 16 first period shots from the Wolves as he picked up his seventh straight win.

"Streaks are always nice when they are positive," Gerber said. "It's much earlier to stay in a winning streak thenn to break out of a losing out."

But after Reddox scored his goal less then six minutes into the second, the Wolves Spencer Machacek scored two straight goals to cut the Barons lead to one entering the third period.

The Wolves out-shot the Barons 15-11 in the 2nd period.

Barons Head Coach Todd Nelson had a strong conversation with his team in the second period.

"I just told the guys, 'Don't cheat the game,'" Nelson said. "They looked like they wanted to get on the bus after jumping 3-0."

The Barons lead stayed at one through much of the third period until Chris VandeVelde, getting the puck off the draw in the zone near the boards, streaked behind the net and tried a wraparound.

VandeVelde initial shot didn't make it past Chicago Goaltender Peter Mannino, but it bounced off a Wolves player in the crease and past Mannino.

That was the first of three Barons Goals in a stretch of 5:21 stretch that quickly put the game firmly in the Barons Grasp.

Brad Moran and Shawn Belle added goals for the Barons during that stretch.

The game was the final of a four game conditioning assignment for Edmonton's J.F. Jacques. Jacques had three shots and five penalty minutes, getting into his first fight of the season and showing no effects from the back injury that had sidelined him since last season.

Ryan O'Marra assisted on three of the Barons goals, giving him 12 for the season. While O'Marra has yet to score a goal, he's already registered a professional high in assists.

The Barons (10-6-1 21 PTS) get most of the week off before resuming their eight game home-stand Friday against the Texas Stars.

The team will take the next two days off from practice, with most of the team attending today's OU Football Game before a team event on Sunday.

Source: http://texasicehockeyexpert.blogspot.com/2010/11/oklahoma-city-barons-rout-chicago-6-2.html

Dino Zoff