Last night the Jacks faced the Lone Star Brahmas to start their 3-in-3 series. Odessa entered the game in sixth place and was eight points out of a playoff spot. As for Lone Star, they were sitting in second place and already had a playoff spot locked up. They also came into the game on a three-game win streak.
The Brahmas came out firing on all cylinders in the opening period as they notched the first goal at the 2:58 mark. The goal was scored by Matthew Macdonald (15). The Brahmas would add to their lead after Jacob MacDonald (2) found the back of the net just over five minutes into the period. Shortly past the halfway point, he would get his second of the game and put Lone Star up 3-0. As the game reached the final minute of the opening period, Ryan Comishock (13) put the puck past Greg Orosz to make it a 4-0 Brahmas lead after 20 minutes of play. Lone Star was outshooting Odessa, 14-5. It is the most goals Lone Star has scored in the first period all season.
Odessa picked up some momentum in the second period by putting up their most shots all night with eight. However, William Gramme denied them all as he was closing in on his third shutout of the season and his team’s tenth. The Brahmas only managed to get seven shots onto Orosz but one did find the back of the net while they were on the powerplay. The goal came from Dhillon Wilde (17) after he received a backdoor pass from Mason Mara. Lone Star not only took a 5-0 lead into the second intermission, but they were also outshooting Odessa, 21-13.
Odessa replaced Orosz with Quentin Sigurdson to start the final period. Almost halfway into the third period, the Jacks were finally able to find an answer for the Wisconsin net-minder. It came at the 9:58 mark as J.R. Perdion and Justin Hughes went on a 2-on-0 breakaway. Perdion sent the puck across to Hughes and he was easily able to fire it past Gramme for his fifth of the season. While Odessa was able to avoid the shutout, they were unsuccessful in adding any more to their total. Resulting in a 5-1 victory for the Brahmas. The Brahmas outshot the Jacks, 30-19. Odessa went 0/3 on the powerplay and the Brahmas went 1/6.
The loss moves the max points for Odessa can finish with down to 67. They now have to win their remaining six games and get help from other teams in order to make the playoffs. Both teams will take the ice for game two tonight at 7:15 p.m. CDT. The season series is now tied, 3-3.
Photo credit: Danne Braden
