Odessa, TX – A touchdown was the difference as the Odessa Jackalopes (24-14-3-2) turned up the intensity with an 8-1 win over the Amarillo Bulls (15-18-4-3) on Friday night. The eight goals for Odessa was the most scored in a single game this season.
Eric Huss started the scoring off for Odessa only 1:04 into the opening frame. Blake Bride blocked a pass from Amarillo’s defense, taking the puck away in the offensive zone. Huss put the puck on his backhand and shoveled a shot towards Jason Grande from the inside of the left hash mark. It hit the top of Grande’s glove and fluttered past, resulting in the 1-0 lead.
The Jacks got another early goal in the second period, when Ricky Carballo dropped a beautiful pass to the stick of Peyton Frantti. Frantti fired one low glove past Grande, burying his 13th goal of the year.
Five minutes later, the Jacks headed to their third power play of the contest. This time, it was Frantti who found Carballo, and with a nifty move in the blue paint, beat Grande again for his 14th goal of the season, prompting a goaltender change. Blake Bride would add his 14th two minutes later, fighting in front of the net to beat Micucci when all hope seemed lost.
Amarillo netted one 45 seconds into the third period, but it was their only goal of the game.
The Jacks would fire back and double their score in the third period alone. In a four and a half minute span, Frantti, Huss, and Carballo all netted their second of the contest. The odd-man out was Blake Bride, but he joined the party with his second of the night as well with 1:19 remaining in regulation as the Jacks dominated in an 8-1 win.
Brett Epp stonewalled 33 attempts from the Bulls, earning his first win since December 30th when he beat the Bulls in back-to-back contests. Jason Grande saved 13 shots before being removed for Trevor Micucci, who made 16 of his own.
The Jacks return to action tomorrow night for the final home game until early March, as they finish the three-game weekend with the Amarillo Bulls.
Make sure to come on out for your chance to meet your favorite princesses throughout the night. Stay after the game as well for Dueling Pianos, as well as your chance to bid on these once-in-a-lifetime Jackalopes specialty jerseys in honor of the Jr. Jacks youth hockey program.
The 2017-2018 Odessa Jackalopes single game tickets are on sale now! To reserve your seats, contact the Jackalopes’ ticket office today at 432-552-7825 or hop on to www.jackalopes.org for more information.
Also, be sure to follow the Jackalopes on Twitter and Facebook (@LetsGoJacks), Instagram (odessajackalopes), and add us on Snapchat (odessajacks) all year long.
— ODESSA JACKALOPES —
