Nov. 4, 2011
JACKS RALLY FALLS SHORT, 4-2
Bulls ride pair of second period tallies to victory.
AMARILLO, TX– In the first of a pair of weekend games at Amarillo Civic Center in Amarillo, TX, the Odessa Jackalopes fell, despite a furious third period rally, 4-2 to the Amarillo Bulls on Friday night. With the loss, the Jackalopes fell to 5-9-2 so far in 2011-12 and dropped to 0-2-0 against first-place Amarillo this season. With 12 total points, the Jacks remain alone in fifth place in the NAHL’s South Division standings.
In a lively game that featured four fights, two ejections and 91 total penalty minutes, the Jackalopes fought back from a one goal deficit in the first period to enter the second frame tied 1-1 thanks to Tyler Poulson’s first goal of the season, a power-play tally at 17:13 of the first on feeds from Sheldon Taylor and Willie Faust. After a pair of early second-period goals by Amarillo, Odessa pulled within a goal late in the second, as Willie Faust scored his sixth goal of the season with less than a minute remaining in the frame, an even-strength marker assisted by Jalen Krogman and Jared Docken to make it 3-2. The only third period scoring came in the final minute of regulation when Bulls captain Joe Kozlak sealed the deal for Amarillo with an empty-net goal that pushed the game’s final score to 4-2.
Odessagoaltender Connor Hellebuyck was solid again in net, stopping 51 of the 54 shots he faced to raise his season save percentage to an impressive .936, the sixth best total in the NAHL so far this season.
Next up for the Jackalopes, it’s the final game of a two-game set with Amarillo and the third of nine meetings between the two teams in 2011-12, a Saturday night clash at the Amarillo Civic Center with the opening faceoff scheduled for 7:05 pm.
The Odessa Jackalopes celebrate their 15th Anniversary in 2011-12 and drop the puck on their inaugural campaign as a member of the North American Hockey League. Season tickets, mini-plans, and single game tickets are available by calling (432) 552-7825 or by visiting the Jacks online at www.jackalopes.org.
Be sure to follow the Jackalopes on Twitter @LetsGoJacks all season long and don’t forget to ‘Like’ the official “Odessa Jackalopes” fan page on Facebook.
— ODESSA JACKALOPES —
