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BARONS GAME NOTES - NOVEMBER 8
By Jim Byers,
Toronto Marlies (6-4-2-0) at Oklahoma City Barons (8-2-0-1)Barons Game 12 | Home Game 6 | AHL Game 179
Nov. 8, 2011, 10:30 am CST | Cox Convention Center
Broadcast: AM 1340 The Game
TODAY: The Barons play their annual Field Trip matinee at 10:30 am CST in the only visit of the season by the North Division-leading Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs). The teams split two early-season games last year, Toronto winning 5-2 on Oct. 23 at Ricoh Coliseum and the Barons rallying from 4-1 down for a 7-6 shootout win Nov. 7 on the strength of 5 goals by Linus Omark. The Barons bring a 4-game winning streak into today’s action after a 4-3 OT win on Saturday in Abbotsford. The Marlies beat Houston on Sunday 6-2 to improve to 1-3-1-0 on a 9-game trip.
SET THE ALARM: The only other AHL game today is also a morning start at Hamilton between the Bulldogs and Chicago Wolves starting at 10 am Eastern. OKC has one more Field Trip game Dec. 8 at Houston at 11:05 CST. The only previous morning game in OKC’s one-plus AHL seasons was a home contest Feb. 9, 2011 against San Antonio, a 2-0 Barons win with Martin Gerber in net.
LAST MINUTE MAGIC: The Barons took a pair of dramatic finishes in Abbotsford on Thursday and Saturday to increase their winning streak to 4, all on the road. The 4-game winning streak matches their season high and they’ve won all 5 road contests since a season-opening loss in Cedar Park against the Texas Stars. Thursday’s 3-2 win featured a game-winning power play goal by Kevin Montgomery at 19:24 of the third period to cap a 3-goal rally in the final 9:14 of regulation time. Saturday’s 4-3 OT win was a back-and-forth affair that ended on Gilbert Brule’s one-timer from the left wing circle, a similar spot to Montgomery’s goal, at 2:53 of overtime, also on a power play.
NO LEAD, NO PROBLEM: In each of their last 2 games, the Barons overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat the Abbotsford Heat. Those 3-2 and 4-3 (OT) wins in Abbotsford were the first times this season the team has won when trailing by 2, however they did climb back from a 2-0 deficit against Grand Rapids Oct. 22 to force overtime in an eventual 3-2 shootout loss.
SCHEDULE HEATS UP: This is the Barons’ first 4-game week of the season. After today’s game they host Charlotte on Friday and Saturday before traveling day-of-game to Milwaukee on Sunday.
POWER PLAY PRACTICE: The Barons enjoyed 12 minutes and 31 seconds of man-advantage time in the first 22 minutes of Saturday’s game at Abbotsford, helped by a major for slashing to the Heat’s Jordan Henry. The Heat failed to put a player in the box before the expiration of Henry’s penalty and play continued for 1:31 before the next stoppage of play, extending OKC’s 5-on-4 skater edge for an additional minute and half. OKC did not score during the major penalty or the bonus time, but did score 2 power play goals in that game including the overtime winner by Gilbert Brule.
PHIL-ING THE NET: Second-year left winger Philippe Cornet has already established his brief career high of 8 goals, surpassing the 7 he collected last year in 60 games. Cornet has done all his scoring in the past 10 games after not suiting up for the season opener. Cornet has 4 power play goals, 2 game-winners and is a team-best 2-for-2 in shootouts.
THE BIG O: Linus Omark had 4 assists in 2 games at Abbotsford last week after being assigned by Edmonton. Omark matched the team high with 3 helpers on Saturday.
BETWEEN THE PIPES: Yann Danis has won 5 of his last 6 starts and in that time has fashioned a 1.65 GAA and .943 save percentage. Danis played the first game in Abbotsford, a 3-2 win, while David LeNeveu won the 4-3 OT decision on Saturday to up his record to 3-0-1. Each of LeNeveu’s wins has been on the road, including 2 at San Antonio.
Last 5 games:
Date Opp. Result OKC Goalie (GA,SV) Opp. Goalie Attn.
Oct. 28 Charlotte L, 1-2 Danis (2, 34) Murphy (1, 22) 2,517
Oct. 29 @ Hou SOW, 5-4 Danis (4, 23) Hackett/Endras (SOL) 7,140
Oct. 30 @ SA W, 4-1 LeNeveu (1, 26) Plante (L)/Foster 4,450
Nov. 3 @ Abb W, 3-2 Danis (2, 27) Irving (3, 21) 2,840
Nov. 5 @ Abb OTW, 4-3 LeNeveu (3, 19) Ortio (4, 21) 3,449
Next 5 games (all times Central):
Date Opp. Site Time Broadcast
Nov. 11 Charlotte Cox Center 7:00 1340 The Game
Nov. 12 Charlotte Cox Center 7:00 KXY 96.1 FM
Nov. 13 @ Milwaukee Bradley Center 5:00 KXY 96.1 FM
Nov. 16 @ Rockford BMO Harris Bank Ctr 7:05 1340 The Game
Nov. 18 Charlotte Cox Center 7:00 1340 The Game
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