Barons Game Notes - December 20

December 20, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Oklahoma City Barons News Release


Oklahoma City Barons (20-7-0-2) at Charlotte Checkers (17-11-1-1)

Barons Game 30 | Road Game 16 | AHL Game 433

Dec. 20, 2011, 6 pm CST | Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC

Broadcast: KXY 96.1 FM

TONIGHT: The Barons and Charlotte Checkers (Carolina Hurricanes) conclude a 2-game set. The Checkers beat the Barons 3-2 in a shootout on Sunday in the Barons' first game in Charlotte. This is the fifth of 8 meetings between the teams. Charlotte has won 3 of the previous 4 against the Barons. Among teams OKC has faced more than once, the Checkers are the only the team with a season series lead on the Barons. OKC leads the West Division with a league-high 42 points, 1 more than Houston and 2 better than Abbotsford. Charlotte leads the Midwest with 36 points.

OFF THE TOP: The Barons bring a road record of 11-3-0-1 into tonight's game. This is OKC's third game in 4 nights after a 3-2 shootout win at home over Houston on Saturday and a 3-2 shootout loss on Sunday at Charlotte. Goalie David LeNeveu made a Barons season-high 38 saves on Sunday. Including the shot added for winning the shootout, the Checkers' 41 shots were the most by an OKC opponent this season. Taylor Chorney has all 3 of his goals in the last 4 games.

WEST IS BEST: OKC The Barons sits atop the West Division with league-best totals of 42 points, 20 wins and a .724 standing point percentage. The Barons are the only AHL team with a point percentage above .700. The West Division has the AHL's top three teams by points and point percentage. Houston is second with 41 points and Abbotsford third with 40.

TAKING ATTENDANCE: The Barons are without goaltender Yann Danis during this 2-game trip to Charlotte. Danis is home for the birth of a child. Rookie goalie Olivier Roy was assigned to the Barons from ECHL Stockton on Saturday and has yet to play for the Barons. Roy went 4-8-2 with 2 shutouts and a 2.75 GAA in 14 games for the Thunder. Wingers Philippe Cornet, Teemu Hartikainen, Andrew Lord and Linus Omark are not on the trip because of injuries. Center Josh Green completed a 4-game suspension on Sunday and is eligible to return tonight.

MILESTONE WATCH: Goaltender David LeNeveu has 99 career AHL wins combined between OKC, San Antonio, Iowa, Hartford and Springfield. LeNeveu's next win will give the Barons two goalies with 100 AHL wins, as Yann Danis recorded his 100th with a 3-2 decision over Texas on Dec. 10.

NETMINDING: David LeNeveu's 1.99 goals-against average is third in the league behind Lake Erie's Cedrick Desjardins (1.49) and Worcester's Tyson Sexsmith (1.84). LeNeveu's .930 save percentage is tied for fourth in the league with Peoria's Ben Bishop. Yann Danis is sixth in save percentage at .927 and tied for fifth in goals-against average at 2.20. Danis has stopped 13 of 14 shootout attempts, a .929 percentage good for second in the league. His 13 wins are third in the AHL.

CLOSE SHAVES: The Barons have played 19 games decided by 1 goal. They're 12-5-0-2 in those contests. OKC shares the league high in 1-goal games with the Providence Bruins (11-5-1-2).

BARONS AMONG AHL LEADERS: Despite missing the last 4 games with an injury, Philippe Cornet is tied for fourth in the AHL with 15. The leader, Norfolk's Cory Conacher, has 18. Cornet and Ryan Keller are part of a group sharing the AHL lead with 4 game-winning goals. Cornet remains No. 1 in shooting percentage at 34.9. Hunter Tremblay tops the league with 3 shorthanded goals.

ODDS AND ENDS: The Barons are 27-for-30 on the penalty kill in the past 8 games (90.0%)...in those 8 games, all in December, the Barons are 5-2-0-1 and have not scored or allowed more than 3 goals...the Barons have played four straight games featuring a 3-2 final score...the Barons are 16-0-0-0 when scoring 3 or more goals and 4-7-0-2 with 2 or fewer.

Last 5 games:

Date Opp. Result OKC Goalie (GA,SV) Opp. Goalie Attn.

Dec. 9 Peoria W, 3-1 LeNeveu (1, 20) Bishop (2, EN, 32) 4,345

Dec. 10 @ Tex W, 3-2 Danis (2, 27) Beskorowany (3, 16) 4,878

Dec. 13 Texas L, 2-3 LeNeveu (L)/Danis Beskorowany (2, 18) 2,393

Dec. 17 Houston SOW, 3-2 Danis (2, 24) Kuemper (2, 22) 4,425

Dec. 18 @ Cha SOL, 2-3 LeNeveu (2, 38) Murphy (2, 21) 4,912

Next 5 games (all times Central):

Date Opp. Site Time Broadcast

Dec. 27 Rochester Cox Center 7:00 KXY 96.1 FM

Dec. 28 Rochester Cox Center 7:00 1340 The Game

Dec. 31 San Antonio Cox Center 7:00 KXY 96.1 FM

Jan. 1 @ Houston Toyota Center 5:05 KXY 96.1 FM

Jan. 4 @ Lake Erie Quicken Loans Arena 6:00 1340 The Game



American Hockey League Stories from December 20, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central