Odessa, TX – The Lone Star Brahmas (28-12-5-4) clinch their spot in the 2018 south division playoffs after they downed the Odessa Jackalopes (27-17-3-2) halfway through the third, 4-3. This was the first game between the two teams since December.
The Jackalopes were able to break through early in the first as it was Blake Bride who beat Mitchell Gibson for the 1-0 lead. An odd-man rush left Bride with Eric Huss, but as the passing lane was taken away, Bride made a move between the circles and fired one low glove for the lead.
While the first period belonged to Odessa, the Brahmas turned up the intensity in the second when they tallied three straight for the two-goal lead. Emack Bentley netted his fourth of the season, while Jon Russell tipped in his 27th, finished off by a bullet from Justin Addamo. The final goal prompted a goalie change for Odessa, bringing in Brett Epp for Alex Camarre.
Odessa would get two back in the third, started by Jared Christy’s 6th tally of the year only 2:42 into the period. Viktor Johansson picked up a rebound and fed a beautiful backhanded shot to an open Jared Christy on the backdoor to fool Gibson.
Zach Heintz would tie the game three minutes later as Odessa headed to their first power play of the night. Heintz carried the puck coast to coast before snapping a missile high glove to beat Gibson and tie the game.
The Brahmas would get the last laugh as a three-on-one breakaway for Lone Star was finished by Owen Farris’ second goal of the year to beat Brett Epp a little more than halfway through the third.
Camarre made 21 saves on 24 attempts in just under 38 minutes played, while Brett Epp took the loss while making 8 saves in relief. Mitchell Gibson earned the win while stopping 28 shots from Odessa.
Jacks and Brahmas return to the ice tomorrow night to finish off their weekend series, while the Jacks will have one more on Sunday against Amarillo as well.
The 2017-2018 Odessa Jackalopes 8-game ticket package is on sale now! To reserve your seats, contact the Jackalopes’ ticket office today at 432-552-7825 or hop on to www.jackalopes.org for more information.
Also, be sure to follow the Jackalopes on Twitter and Facebook (@LetsGoJacks), Instagram (odessajackalopes), and add us on Snapchat (odessajacks) all year long.
— ODESSA JACKALOPES —
