Brahmas - Topeka Roadrunners Preview
February 20, 2015 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Lone Star Brahmas News Release
This weekend the Lone Star Brahmas will look to build on their Wednesday night shootout win over Wichita Falls when they welcome the Topeka Roadrunners to the NYTEX Sports Centre. It will be the Brahmas first game on home ice since January 31 and the fans are itching for some action. Saturday night is down to standing room only and tickets for Friday night are going quickly. Lone Star is currently three points behind Topeka in the NAHL South Division standing and a sweep of the Roadrunners would vault the Brahmas into first place with 11 games left in the regular season.
These two teams have met six times so far this season and split the season series with identical 3 - 3 - 0 records. The home team has won every game with the exception of their final game in Topeka where the Brahmas came away with a road win.
11/07/14 Topeka 1 at Lone Star 5
11/08/14 Topeka 1 at Lone Star 3
11/28/14 Lone Star 2 at Topeka 4
11/29/14 Lone Star 1 at Topeka 2
01/16/15 Lone Star 2 at Topeka 3
01/17/15 Lone Star 3 at Topeka 1
In Wichita Falls on Wednesday, Lone Star held a 3 - 1 lead midway through the third period on the strength of goals from Liam Stirtzinger, Alexey Solovyev and Anton Santesson. The Stirtzinger and Santesson goals came on the power play. That is when the Wildcats came storming back with two goals in the final 9 minutes of the game to force overtime. After a scoreless overtime period the game went to a shootout with Stirtzinger and Santesson scoring in the first two rounds while Jake Kupsky stopped all four shooters he faced to claim the 4 - 3 win.
Topeka was on the road in Wenatchee, WA for three games last weekend coming away with five of a possible six points. In game one, Topeka got first period goals from Sly Sutter and Tyler Irvine then held on for a 2 - 1 win. The Roadrunners scored in each period of game two with Shawn Brennan, Mike Gornall and Yu Hikosaka doing the damage. In the series finale Sam Rennaker, Hikosaka and Ryan O'Connor gave Topeka a one goal lead going into the first intermission. The Wild tied it up in the second and the game eventually went to a shootout. None of the five Topeka shooter were able to find the back of the net and lost 4 - 3. Matej Tomek made 64 saves against 68 shots faced in games one and two while Drew Vogler allowed two goals on 39 shots in game two.
Last 5 Games W L OTL Pts
Brahmas 3 0 2 8
Roadrunners 3 1 1 7
Special Teams
Special Teams play will be a battle in this series with all four units being ranked in the top six in the NAHL. The Brahmas come in with the 6th ranked power play at 22.22% on 48 goals in 216 opportunities. Their penalty kill is hitting at 87.75% on 25 goals allowed on 204 kills. This has them ranked 2nd in the league. The Roadrunners have equally impressive numbers with the 2nd ranked power play at 25.25% having scored 51 goals on 202 attempts. Topeka's penalty killers are setting 5th in the league on 26 goals allowed in 190 kills or 86.32%.
At home the Brahmas' power play is clicking at 24.3% on 27 goals in 111 opportunities good for 5th in the league. They will be facing the 7th ranked road penalty kill unit at 85.5%. Topeka has allowed 12 goals on 83 times shorthanded. When on the penalty kill the Brahmas home unit ranks 2nd in the league allowing only 11 goals in 103 kills for 89.3%. The Roadrunners come in with a road power play setting 9th in the league at 19.3% on 17 goals in 88 opportunities.
In their six head-to-head meetings this season the Brahmas are 3 - 26 on the power play while the Roadrunners are 5 - 30.
Goaltending Comparison Last 5 Games
W L OTL SO GA GAA SV SV%
Brahmas 3 0 2 0 13 2.60 131 .910
Roadrunners 3 1 1 0 9 1.80 153 .944
Who is Hot (Last 5 Games)
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Brahmas G A Pts
Ludvig Larsson 3 4 7
Sebastian Vidmar 1 5 6
Anton Santesson 2 3 5
Oskar Andren 2 2 4
Roman Uchyn 2 0 2
Roadrunners G A Pts
Sly Sutter 1 4 5
Sam Rennaker 1 3 4
Jasen Fernsler 1
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