Topeka, KS – Another offensive outburst on Saturday night gave the Odessa Jackalopes (14-10-2-1) a dominant 7-1 victory over the Topeka RoadRunners (10-17-1-1). The matchup was the second on the weekend, and helped the Jackalopes to extend their point-streak to six straight games with five of the six being wins.
Only 22 seconds into the opening frame, Zach Heintz buries one past Sam Metcalf on the first shot of the game. Heintz has been working to keep his shots down in the net, and it helps to tally his first since November 10th against the Shreveport Mudbugs.
The Jackalopes first power play of the night went just as planned. It only took 30 seconds on the man advantage for the Jacks to net their second of the night. Evan Somoza received the puck in front of the net, and with a nifty forehand-backhand deke, tallies his tenth of the season.
The Jackalopes took an early penalty in the second period, but Matt Brown and Blake Bride had other plans. While shorthanded, Bride blocked a pass on the forecheck and slid a puck rink wide for Brown. Brown picked it up on the left circle and flung a wrist shot between the legs of Metcalf.
Topeka would get one back as Brett Epp made three fantastic saves before Hugh Quinn popped one over the sprawled goaltender for the goal. It was Teddy Bear Toss night in Topeka, as the flurry of bears graced the ice following Quinn’s goal.
The Jackalopes would get that back and regain their 3-goal lead late in the frame as Matt Brown netted his second of the night. Brown stood on the right circle where his shot ricocheted off a defender’s stick, high into the air, and past Metcalf.
Metcalf came out in front of the blue pant and swatted at the puck with his glove, looking to have made the save, but the depth perception was off as it fell across the goal line for the 4-1 lead at the end of two.
The Jacks kept the foot on the gas in the third as they would go on to net three more goals. Ricky Carballo started it off with a short-side snipe over Metcalf, and finished the night off on a bouncing puck he backhanded for his second goal. Carballo’s goals sandwiched Matt Brown’s 3rd goal of the night.
Brown’s hat trick was the Jackalopes first of the season, as his three goals all came on special teams. He started it off with a shorthanded goal early in the second and two power play goals later on gave him the rest.
Brett Epp stood on his head, making 29 saves on the night, while his counterpart made 33 blocks of his own. The Jackalopes power play clicked tonight, going 3-5 after an 0-5 showing the previous night. The penalty kill finished up a perfect 3-3 on the night.
The Jacks and RoadRunners finish up the weekend series tomorrow night at the Kansas ExpoCentre. Make sure to tune into Classic Rock 102 to catch up on all the up-to-date, live action for tomorrow night’s contest.
Be sure to follow the Jackalopes on Twitter and Facebook (@LetsGoJacks), Instagram (odessajackalopes), and add us on Snapchat (odessajacks) all year long.
— ODESSA JACKALOPES —
