Yesterday the Jacks took the ice for their final regular-season game against Lone Star. Odessa was looking for a win to be able to split the weekend series and get revenge for their 6-2 loss on Friday. As for Lone Star, they were on a six-game point streak and trying to catch New Mexico for the top spot in the South Division.
The first period was a low shooting affair for both teams as neither of them reached double digits. Lone Star put up nine shots on Noah Rupprecht and he was able to stop eight of them. The only one that went past him was from the stick of Artur Turansky (18) while Lone Star was on the power play. Odessa registered five shots on Arthur Smith, but he stopped them all. Resulting in a 1-0 lead for the Brahmas after 20 minutes of play.
The Jacks came out firing on all cylinders for the second period. Their offensive pressure resulted in Ryan Kelly (9) scoring 28 seconds into the period. Shortly past the halfway point, Odessa would get their first lead of the weekend. Their second goal was scored by Ryan Mansfield (8). After a very penalty-heavy second period, the Jacks took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. Shots through 40 minutes favored Lone Star, 21-17.
Within the first few minutes of the final period, the Jacks wound up on a power play. They would convert five seconds into the man-advantage thanks to a slapshot from the point by John Wojciechowski (2). Lone Star would not back down as Dylan Smith (19) scored less than two minutes later. Making it a 3-2 Odessa lead with 15 minutes left in regulation. With only 5:39 left to play, Tanner Daniels (7) beat Rupprecht to tie the game. The 3-3 score would hold for the rest of the third period. Marking the fifth time a game between these two teams needed more than three periods to dictate a winner. Lone Star was leading in shots after regulation, 36-26.
The Jacks have the only overtime win during their season series with the Brahmas. Odessa was 6-1 in the 3-on-3 overtime and Lone Star was 1-5. Both teams tried to create scoring opportunities throughout the extra period but were met by fantastic goaltending. The score was still tied 3-3 after 65 minutes, and now both teams had to turn their attention to the shootout. It was the fourth time that a game between these two teams reach a shootout. Lone Star has won all three. Nate Boak scored the first shot for Odessa but answering for Lone Star was Johan Rosenquist. Neither team would score again until the fifth round. The only goal of the fifth round was by Matthew McQuade. His game-winning goal gave the Brahmas a weekend sweep over Odessa with a 4-3 win. Lone Star had 39 shots and Odessa had 27. The Jacks went 1/3 on the power play and the Brahmas went 1/4. Rupprecht finished the game with 35 saves and Smith had 24.
Seven of the eight games between Odessa and Lone Star were decided by one goal. The Jacks now have a record of 24-17-1-4. They now have 53 points and are tied with Wichita Falls for third place. The Warriors are wrapping up a 3-in-3 series with Shreveport tonight. However, both Odessa and Wichita Falls are off next weekend. The next time the Jacks will take the ice will be the first weekend of March in Shreveport, LA.
