FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, February 27, 2015
JACKALOPES FALL TO BRAHMAS IN SHOOTOUT 3-2
Jacks battle back to tie twice; NAHL scoring leader Sebastian Vidmar nets shootout winner
ODESSA, TX – The Jackalopes took to the Ector County Coliseum ice Friday night looking to end a nagging nine-game winless streak. They had a tough task ahead of them in second place Lone Star Brahmas (North Richland Hills). The Brahmas were coming off of a series split with the Topeka RoadRunners, while the Jacks dropped two at home to the Wenatchee Wild last weekend in Odessa. Tanner Creel made the start in goal tonight for the Jacks, looking to build off an exemplary performance at the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament. The Brahmas countered with Jake Kupsky (Union). Kupsky came into the contest with the seventh-best goals against average in the NAHL at 2.22. Friday also marked the return of former Jackalopes captain Chad Guderian, who played the first 103 games of his NAHL career with the Jackalopes. Tonight, he was wearing the opposing purple and black of the Brahmas.
The Brahmas drew first blood in the game at 5:31 of the period when Pat Egan popped in a rebound that came to him off of the left pad of Tanner Creel. Caleb Thompson fired a shot on goal and Creel kicked the rebound right to the stick of Egan for his ninth goal of the season. The Brahmas outshot the Jacks 16-7 in the opening frame and lead 1-0 after one period.
In the second period, the Brahmas were controlling the play, but Tanner Creel shut the door on all bids. The Jacks knotted the score at one on Kenny Hausinger’s 17th goal of the season. His brother Christian fired a shot from the right point that Kenny deflected past Kupsky. Derek Brown also picked up an assist on the goal at 16:10. The teams went to the locker room tied at 2-2 after two.
In the third, the Brahmas struck at 3:19 of the period when Peter Kessel scored his third goal of the season, and third against the Jacks into an empty net. A scrum ensued in front that took Jackalopes goaltender Tanner Creel completely out of the play and let a gaping cage for Kessel. The Jacks would be granted a power play when the goaltending for the Brahmas was penalized for internationally knocking the net off the pegs. Razmuz Waxin-Engback scored on a one-time from the right circle setup by Corey Hoffman to make it 2-2. That is how we would end regulation and the Jacks would head to overtime for the first time since January 29th.
The Jackalopes were outshot 4-2 in overtime, as both teams had opportunities to end it in the extra session. Nothing was settled in the 5:00 sudden death overtime.
The five-man shootout began with the Brahmas drawing first blood on a goal from defenseman Anton Santesson. The Jacks answered with a tally from Corey Hoffman in round two. In round three, Sebastian Vidmar scored what would be the eventual game winner in a 3-2 decision. Tanner Creel made 35 saves backstopping the Jackalopes to their first point since January 29th.
In 2014-15, the Odessa Jackalopes will embark upon their fourth season in the North American Hockey League and 18th 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.
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— ODESSA JACKALOPES —
