ODESSA, TX – The Odessa Jackalopes twice erased one-goal deficits, but couldn’t make it a third in the final frame falling to the Wichita Falls Wildcats, 3-2, Tuesday night at Ector County Coliseum.
In the first, Odessa looked like they were going to take a 1-0 lead on Matthew Rypien wrap-around only to have the goal waved off because the net had come off its moorings. The Cats would officially strike first at 14:32 when Garrett VanWyhe beat Dean Shatzer five-hole after Odessa couldn’t clear the Zone.
After failing to score in the first, Derek Brown (3) tied the game 1-1 at 16:51 of the second on the penalty kill after sneaking behind the Cats defense. Less then a minute and a half later the Cats regained its lead on a controversial goal in which Jonathan Lazarus jammed home a loose puck with the net slightly dislodged at 18:09. Under a minute left in the period, Danny Kiraly ripped a long distance seeing-eye snap shot over Justin Kapelmaster’s left shoulder at 18:09 to tie the game 2-2.
In the final frame, Adam Goodsir buried a rebound from the high slot to give the Cats a 3-2 lead, and Odessa couldn’t mount another comeback.
Justin Kapelmaster earned his tenth win of the year (10-1-1) making 26 saves on 28 shots. On the other end, Dean Shatzer took the hard-luck loss (3-5-1) making 32 saves on 35 shots.
The Jacks and Wildcats will duel it out again on Friday in Wichita Falls. All Jacks game can be heard on the Jacks flagship’ station Classic Rock 102.1 FM.
In 2015-16, the Odessa Jackalopes embark upon their fifth season in the North American Hockey League and 19th in the Permian Basin. Season tickets are on sale now! To reserve your seats, contact the Jackalopes’ ticket office today at 432-552-7825 or log on to www.jackalopes.org for more information.
