Barons Week in Review

Published on November 26, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Oklahoma City Barons News Release


Season record: 11-5-1-1, 2nd, South Division, -2 pts.

- THE WEEK PAST: The Barons won all 3 games and have built a season-best 5-game winning streak. OKC opened a stretch of 7 straight road games with a 6-4 win on Wednesday in the first visit to the Texas Stars. It was the first of three straight 3-point games for Taylor Hall, who amassed 1 goal, 8 assists and was a +6 in 3 games last week. OKC then swept the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday and Sunday in the first of 8 meetings between the current first and second place teams in the South Division. The Barons closed to within 2 points of Charlotte in the standings after 4-2 and 7-2 victories, during which Jordan Eberle chipped in 2 goals each game. League point leader Justin Schultz enters this week with a 7-game point streak, collecting 3 goals and 9 assists in that span. Schultz has points in 16 of 18 games played and owns 10 multi-point contests. OKC was shut out in Schultz's only pointless games.

- THE WEEK AHEAD: The Barons return home Monday, spend one full day in OKC, then return to the road to face the Houston Aeros at the Toyota Center Thursday and Friday at 7:05 pm CST. The Barons have a win, a loss and a shootout loss in 3 meetings with the Aeros, all at the Cox Center. After the 2-game set at Houston, the Barons go 7 calendar days without playing before visiting San Antonio Dec. 8-9. The 7-day break starting Dec. 1 is the team's longest layoff of the regular season.

- POINT RACE UPDATE: Barons rookie defenseman Justin Schultz enters this week leading the AHL in points with 28, including 10 goals and an AHL-best 18 assists. The CCM/AHL Player of the Month for October, Schultz totaled 1 goal with 4 assists while a +7 in just the 2 games at Charlotte over the weekend. Schultz leads the league in plus-minus at +14. Jordan Eberle is second in the AHL with 26 points, on 11 goals and 15 assists. Eberle has 4 straight multi-point games dating to Nov. 17, during which he has 5 goals, 5 assists and a +6 rating. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is part of a 3-way tie for fourth in the league in points with 20 (8G, 12A).

- DANIS THE BACKSTOP: Last season's first-team All-Star and Goaltender of the Year Yann Danis has been in net for all 5 consecutive wins, going 5-0-0 with a 2.18 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage, stopping 155 of 166 shots in that time.

- POWER: OKC has the AHL's top 2 power play point producers. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads with 12 (3G, 9A) while Justin Schultz is second with 11 (3G, 8A). Jordan Eberle is tied for third in power play scoring with 2 goals and 8 assists.

- POINTS: In addition to winning 5 straight, OKC has standing points in each of its last 6, going 5-0-1-0 dating to Nov. 13. The Barons have improved during that stretch from 15th in point percentage (.542 prior to an OT loss Nov. 13) to 6th currently (.667).

- PK ON THE RISE: The Barons have killed of 28 of their last 31 times short over the past 7 games, raising their penalty killing rate from 70.4 to its current 77.6.

THE JUSTIN SCHULTZ LEDGER

Through Nov. 25 Games played: 18

Goals 10 AHL Rank: T-6th

Assists 18 AHL Rank: 1

Points 28 AHL Rank: 1

Plus-minus +14 AHL Rank: 1

Power play pts 11 AHL Rank: 2

NOTABLE AHL DEFENSEMEN SCORING RECORDS

Most goals, one season, by a defenseman 30 John Slaney, WB/Scranton, 1999-2000

Most goals, one season, by a rookie defenseman* 20 John Slaney, Baltimore, 1992-93

Most assists, one season, by a defenseman 74 Chris Snell, St. John's, 1993-94

Most assists, one season, by a rookie defenseman* 47 Mike Gaul, Hershey, 1997-98

Most points, one season, by a defenseman 96 Chris Snell, St. John's, 1993-94

Most points, one season, by a rookie defenseman* 66 John Slaney, Baltimore, 1992-93

*AHL rookie records date to the 1982-83 season

This week's games (times listed as Central)

Date Opponent Time Arena Radio

Thursday, Nov. 29 Houston 7:05 pm Toyota Center KXY 96.1 FM

Friday, Nov. 30 Houston 7:05 pm Toyota Center KXY 96.1 FM

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from November 26, 2012


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