Brahmas - Wichita Falls Wildcats Preview
February 18, 2015 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Lone Star Brahmas News Release
The Lone Star Brahmas will be in Wichita Falls Wednesday for one game with the Wildcats. Lone Star currently sets three points ahead of Wichita Falls in the NAHL South Division standings. However, the Wildcats have three games in hand, so the outcome of Wednesday's contest may have a big impact on the final standings. The importance of the two points at stake takes on even more significance when you consider that there are only 14 regular season games remaining on the Brahmas' schedule.
In five previous meetings this season the Brahmas hold a 2 - 1 - 2 record head to head with the Wildcats.
10/03/14 - Brahmas 2 at Wildcats 3 OT
10/04/14 - Brahmas 5 at Wildcats 1
01/30/15 - Wildcats 3 at Brahmas 6
01/31/15 - Wildcats 4 at Brahmas 3
02/04/15 - Brahmas 3 at Wildcats 4 SO
This past week the Brahmas traveled to Hidalgo for a three game series against the Rio Grande Killer Bees with all three contests going beyond regulation. Thursday night the Brahmas held a two goal lead early in the second on goals by Anton Santesson and Caleb Thompson before the Killer Bees tied it up with 1:03 remaining in the third. After neither team could score in the overtime period they went to a seven round shootout before the first tally which unfortunately gave Rio Grande the 3 - 2 win. Friday night was a reversal through the first 60 minutes with Lone Star coming back from two down to tie the game on goals from Oskar Andren and Ludvig Larsson. Once again the game went to a shootout with Liam Stirtzinger and Santesson scoring for the Brahmas before Rio Grande won it in the bottom of the seventh round. Saturday, Lone Star knotted the score at one apiece with a third period power play goal fromSebastian Vidmar to send the game to overtime. AJ Vanderbeck ensured the game would not go to a shootout when he scored the game winner just over one minute into overtime. TJ Black was in net for game one and three while Jake Kupsky got the start in game two.
Wichita Falls was home for a pair against Odessa. In game one the Wildcats got a pair of goals from Evan Okeley and single goals from Matt Koch, Colin Staub and Nikita Litviak to grab a 5 - 4 win in front of Austin Shaw. Game two went a little easier for Wichita Falls when they got five goals from five different skaters before Odessa got on the board. The Wildcats goals came from Austin Azzinnaro, Alex Falconer, Tommy Apap, Jake Townsend and Max Reisinger. David Zevnik was in goal for the win.
Last 5 Games W L OTL Pts
Brahmas 2 0 3 7
Wildcats 4 1 0 8
Special Teams
The Brahmas will have their hands full when on the penalty kill. Wichita Falls boasts the number one power play unit in the NAHL at 26.71%. Fortunately, Lone Star comes in with the second best penalty kill in the league at 87.62%. The Brahmas power play has been hit and miss of late and currently rank 8th in the league at 21.60%. Wichita Falls penalty kill is playing at 79.01% which is 19th . Luckily for them they have been shorthanded the 3rd fewest times in the league.
On the road the Brahmas' power play has fallen to 10th at 18.6% on 19 goals in 102 opportunities. They will be up against a Wildcats' home penalty kill unit that has allowed 19 goals in 104 times shorthanded or 81.7% which ranks 16th .
Lone Star's road penalty kill is ranked 6th in the league allowing 14 goals on 99 kills or 85.9%. They will need to be on their game against a tough Wichita Falls home power play unit which is 3rd in the league scoring 27 times in 102 opportunities or 26.5%
In their five head to head meetings, the Brahmas are 6 for 16 on the power play while holding Wichita Falls to 1 for 17.
Goaltending Comparison Last 5 Games
W L OTL SO GA GAA SV SV%
Brahmas 2 0 3 0 13 2.60 116 .899
Wildcats 4 1 0 0 18 3.60 119 .869
Who is Hot (Last 5 Games)
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Brahmas G A Pts
Sebastian Vidmar 1 5 6
Ludvig Larsson 2 3 5
Oskar Andren 3 1 4
Anton Santesson 1 2 3
Hayden Hanson 1 2 3
Wildcats G A Pts
Jake Townsend 3
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