ODESSA, TX — It was certainly the Jackalopes’ best effort of 2020, and certainly one of the better games of the season. The Odessa Jackalopes (7-31-1-1) fell in regulation to the Shreveport Mudbugs (28-13-0-0) at the Ector County Coliseum on Friday night.
The game started well for the Jackalopes, they out-shot the Mudbugs 15-12 and looked to be the better team. However, the Mudbugs took a 1-0 lead in the final minute of the period.
In the second, the Mudbugs had a goal called back due to goaltender interference, but soon scored again on a power play to make it 2-0.
The Jackalopes rallied and had several chances but failed to find the back of the net. For most of the game, Odessa seemed like the better team on the ice. The second period saw a brief scrum erupt between the two sides that was broken up before any major fight erupted. However, the Jackalopes got a power play out of it to start the third period.
In the third, ten seconds into the period and the power play, the Mudbugs took another penalty and the Jackalopes embarked on a five-on-three advantage. Despite the power play, the Jacks failed to find the back of the net. Like Shreveport in the first period the Jacks had a goal disallowed in the third, this dime due to the net becoming displaced.
Also like Shreveport, the Jacks got the goal back in on a separate power play tally as newcomer Adam Kolcon received a pass from his defensive partner Brian Smith to the high slot and Kolcon ripped a fast shot into the back of the net. Kolcon’s first tally in his first game as a Jackalope who rallied Odessa, who now trailed just 2-1.
Despite a valiant rally and comeback effort late in the period, the Jacks could not complete it as Shreveport took a 3-1 lead off an empty net goal with less then 20 seconds to go.
While the Jackalopes may have lost the game, they took more steps in a positive direction, and put forward one of their best performances of 2020. They will look to salvage a weekend split tomorrow night against the Mudbugs, face-off is set for 7:15 pm.
Photo: Danne’ Braden Photography
