FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Mar. 29, 2013
THIRD PERIOD BARRAGE FALLS SHORT IN 7-5 LOSS
Corpus Christi clinches playoff berth with win over Jacks.
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – In the opener of the final series of the 2012-13 regular season, the Odessa Jackalopes buried four third period goals, but came up just short in a wacky 7-5 loss to the Corpus Christi IceRays Friday at American Bank Center. With the loss, the Jacks fell to 6-50-3 overall this season and with 15 points, remain alone in sixth place in the NAHL’s South Division standings.
After Emil Romig staked the ‘Rays to a 2-0 first period lead with a pair of goals, Corey Hoffman struck back for Odessa when he redirected a Jimmy Peplinski power-play wrister, assisted by Anthony Olguin, at 11:53, to draw Odessa within a goal. Following a two-goal Corpus second period, the Jacks trailed 4-1 entering period three, but Trace Jablin’s first-career NAHL tally came just 30 seconds in, to pull the Jacks within two at 4-2.
IceRays sniper Rudy Sulmonte, and fellow forward Mike Economos, added goals of their own before Corpus Christi’s Eric Purcell incurred a five-minute major penalty for kneeing at 9:19 against Jackalopes captain Mike Mezzano. Odessa capitalized in a huge way, scoring three unanswered power-play goals during Purcell’s major, from Mezzano, Taylor Portner and Brett Wagner respectively, all in the span of one minute, to put the Jacks down just one at 6-5.
The Jacks’ comeback was halted in the period’s final minute, however, when Economos netted an insurance marker at 19:32 to clinch the 7-5 win, and paired with a Wichita Falls Friday loss, the ‘Rays first playoff berth in the team’s NAHL era.
Next up for the Jacks, it’s the 2012-13 regular season finale, a Saturday meeting vs. Corpus Christi at 7:05 pm at American Bank Center.
In 2012-13, the Odessa Jackalopes drop the puck on their second season as a member of the North American Hockey League. Season ticket packages for the Jacks’ sophomore campaign are available now starting at just $179. To reserve your seats, contact the Jackalopes’ ticket office today at 432-552-7825 or log on to www.jackalopes.org for more information.
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 —
