Topeka, KS (March 19, 2016) – Pierce Pluemer potted his sixth goal of the year Saturday with less than a minute remaining in regulation to give the Jacks (23-26-4) their first win against the Topeka RoadRunners (31-21-1) at Kansas ExpoCentre since Oct. 23, 2013.
At 1:49 of the first, JB Baker (14) buried a big bounce off the end boards after a Runners dump to give Topeka an early advantage. Brennen Miller (8) then tied the game for the Jacks when his ripped a shot through the five-hole of Juho Niku at 7:45 of the first.
In the 2nd, Hampus Sjodahl (33) received a Gray Marr pass and sniped it past Niku on an odd-man rush one-timer. Quinn Preston (15) tied the game when he finished a two-on-one through the five hole of Jon Flakne at 18:38. Marr waited less than a minute (19:31) to recapture Odessa’s lead when he jammed home a loose puck in the crease to make it 3-2.
In the final frame, Johnny Walker (6) fired a shot through the wickets of Flakne from inside the blue line on the power play to tie the game up 3-3. It seemed as if the Runners and Jacks were destined for overtime for the first time in nine games this year, but Pluemer (6) snuck behind the Topeka defense and buried the game winner with a nifty backhand over Niku’s left shoulder at 19:07 to give the Jacks the lead and the 4-3 win.
Flakne (6-2-0) was impressive in his return from a concussion stopping 33 Runners shots in the victory. Niku (10-6-1) was charged with his first loss against Odessa in five games, stopping 18 of 22 shots.
The Odessa Jackalopes are in their fifth season in the North American Hockey League in 2015-16 and 19th in the Permian Basin. Single game tickets are on sale now for April 1,2,8,9. 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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