Amarillo Gorillas Weekly Notes
February 16, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release
§ LAST WEEK: Amarillo traveled to Rapid City on Wednesday, losing a shootout decision 2-1 before heading back to the Texas Panhandle. They won 7-5 Friday against division rival Arizona, and lost to the Sundogs in overtime 4-3 on Saturday. The Gorillas collected at least a point in each game last week.
§ THIS WEEK: A busy week awaits the Gorillas, who motor into New Mexico to play a Tuesday morning game against the Scorpions. Tuesday's game was originally scheduled for December 16, but was postponed due to an unexpected blizzard in the Rio Rancho, NM area. Friday, Amarillo will once again play on the road against a division rival, this time in Odessa. The Gorillas return home Saturday and Sunday for a pair of matches against the Laredo Bucks.
§ THIS SEASON: On the season, Amarillo is 14-29-3. They are currently fourth in the Southwest Division, seven points behind New Mexico for third. The Gorillas are currently 16 points behind Arizona for the fifth and final playoff spot in the CHL's South.
§ AGAINST THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: New Mexico has posed problems for Amarillo, defeating the Gorillas in five of six games thus far in 2008-09. The Gorillas are 2-4-0 against the Jackalopes this year, with both wins coming at the Ector County Coliseum. Amarillo lost their only game played against Laredo, 2-1, at the Laredo Entertainment Center in November.
§ ATTRITION: The Gorillas have lost 88 man-games to injury this year. Injuries have been spread throughout the team-only two Gorillas have played all 46 games with the team this year (Austin Sutter and Sam Ftorek).
§ POINTS-A-PLENTY: For the first time all season, the Gorillas have collected points in each of their last four games. With two wins against Arizona, and overtime losses against Rapid City and the Sundogs, Amarillo is now 4-6-3 under head coach Brian Pellerin. The Gorillas currently have the second-longest active "non-loss" streak in the league behind Mississippi (nine).
§ NO KIDDIN' AROUND: Amarillo has not won in a Kid's Day Game since November of 2003, when they won at New Mexico 3-1. They have been defeated by a combined score of 13-1 in their last two such games (against Laredo and Odessa, respectively). When they play at New Mexico on Tuesday, it will be the third time in franchise history the Gorillas have skated in a day game against the Scorpions.
§ CREASE LIGHTNING: With Mike Gorman on the IR through Sunday, A.J. Bucchino is likely to start both games this weekend. He has stopped over 30 shots in his last five starts, including a 48-save performance against Arizona last Saturday. After dropping his first four decisions in 2008-09, the sophomore professional is 4-3-2 over his last eight starts. Bucchino had a similar trend near the conclusion of last season with Rio Grande Valley; after losing his first four starts, the netminder won five of his next eight decisions.
§ SAM THE SNIPER: Defenseman Sam Ftorek has five points in his last two games, and has tallied at least a point in nine of his last 11 games. Ftorek now has a five-point lead in the CHL's defense scoring race.
§ EASY 'MAC': Stuart MacRae is currently on a team-high six game point streak, dating back to January 24. After coming back from injury last week, he scored four points in three games and was a Gorillas-leading +3.
§ CLEARING THE ZONE: Amarillo is 7-3-1 when leading after one period and is 9-0-2 when leading after two...A.J. Bucchino will get his first career start (in 32 CHL outings) against New Mexico on Tuesday...the Gorillas have lost their last two at home against Laredo, but are 5-2-0 all-time against the Bucks at the Civic Center.
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