Yesterday the Jacks faced the Lone Star Brahmas for the seventh time this season. Odessa’s record against Lone Star this season was 1-2-0-3 going into last night’s game. The Jacks came into North Richland Hills, TX in third place with 52 points and were only four back on Lone Star. The Brahmas came into this weekend series against Odessa having picked up a point in each of their last five games (4-0-0-1).
Lone Star scored the first goal of the game within the opening three minutes. The goal was scored by Dylan Smith (17) as he sent a backhanded shot past Alex Proctor. The Jacks were trying everything they could to tie the game but were unable to have any of their eight shots beat Arthur Smith. The Brahmas would score their second goal with about 30 seconds left in the first period. The goal was scored by Tanner Daniels (6). Lone Star took a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission and was outshooting Odessa, 11-8.
Throughout the middle period, there was a lot of back-and-forth hockey. As neither team recorded double-digit shots. However, the Brahmas increased their lead by netting two more goals. Both while on the power play. Their third goal was scored by their captain and leading scorer, Nicholas Niemo (26). He is tied for fourth in the NAHL in goals and is tied for sixth in points (50). With only three seconds left on their third power play of the game, Dylan Smith (18) found the back of the net for his second of the night. With the Brahmas up 4-0, Head Coach Scott Deur pulled Alex Proctor, and replacing him was Noah Rupprecht. The second period ended with the Jacks trailing 4-0 and were still being outshot, 20-12.
Odesa would avoid the shutout after Nick Ahern (7) hit the puck out of mid-air and past Smith. His goal extended his point streak to seven games (5g, 3a). It also continued the Jacks goal streak as they have now scored in all 45 of their games this season. As time was winding down in the period the Jacks were given a power play after Luke Beerman was called for slashing. The Jacks would pull Rupprecht to make it a 6-on-4 advantage. It would pay off, as Frank Dovorany (4) scored to cut the lead in half with about two minutes left in the game. The Jacks would pull Rupprecht throughout the remaining final minutes of the game, but the result was two empty-net goals for Lone Star. Giving the Brahmas a 6-2 victory and their 25th win of the season. They finished the game with 32 shots and Odessa had 23. The Jacks went 1/4 on the power play and Lone Star went 2/3.
Last night was the first time this season that a game between Odessa and Lone Star was not decided by one goal. Odessa is now 0-19-0-1 since their last win at the NYTEX Sports Centre (September 28, 2018). Arthur Smith is now 12-1-2-2, and his only regulation loss came back on October 22, 2021, versus Amarillo. The Jacks conclude their season series with Lone Star tonight at 7:30 pm CDT. They look to continue their streak of earning a point in every weekend series. Lone Star is still three points behind first-place New Mexico. The Jacks are still in third place but only by a point ahead of Wichita Falls. The Warriors are playing a 3-in-3 series this weekend against Shreveport.
