AMARILLO, TX — Despite a valiant comeback effort, the Odessa Jackalopes (18-26-2) fell to the Amarillo Bulls (35-6-6) by a score of 4-2 on Saturday night at the Budweiser Bull Ben.
The Jackalopes fell down 1-0 in the first period after a spectacular save by Camarre resulted in a free puck in the crease area. The Bulls swarmed to the loose puck and put it in the back of the net to take a 1-0 lead.
The Jackalopes stuck back in the early stages of the second period. On the opening face-off of a power play the puck went right to Vaclav Zidek in the slot. In one motion Zidek sent a hard wrist shot the deflected off the post and into the top corner.
Zidek’s ninth goal of the season tied the game up 1-1. But Amarillo stuck back with two straight goals in the second period. One of which went off the shoulder of Camarre and deflected back across his body and trickled over the goal line.
Down 3-1, the Jackalopes scored on a late rush to close out the second period. A perfectly executed three-on-two by the Jackalopes resulted in a Connor Fedorek goal. Fedorek was the late-man on the rush and received a pass from Michael Sacco in the high slot.
Fedorek’s hard shot beat Justin Evenson and pulled the Jackalopes within one goal going into the third period.
In the final period it was high-intensity and back-and-forth action as both sides looked for the decisive goal. The best Jackalope chance to tie came when a shot produced a large rebound that hopped over the stick of Zidek.
Instead it was the Bulls who scored their fourth goal of the game with less then five minutes remaining in regulation. Odessa was unable to get many scoring chances in the final minutes and fell 4-2 in regulation.
The loss to Amarillo marks the first time the Jacks have been swept by the Bulls this season. It also marks the firs sweep the Jackalopes have been forced to endure in the month of February.
Despite the sweep, the Jackalopes still sit nine points out of a playoff spot due to the fact the the rest of the south division was off this week.
As the Jackalopes head into the home-stretch of the regular season points will be at a premium as the Jackalopes travel to North Richland Hills for a two game series with the Lone Star Brahmas to start the month of March.
