
Amarillo Knocks off Ice Bats 3-2
March 20, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release
Amarillo, TX 3/20/08 - The Amarillo Gorillas notched their twenty-second win of the season on Thursday night, defeating the Austin Ice Bats by a final score of 3-2 at the Amarillo Civic Center. The game was, for all playoff purposes, a meaningless contest as the Gorillas were eliminated from playoff contention on Tuesday night, and the Ice Bats cannot move up or fall backwards in the playoff standings. The Bats have secured the fifth seed, and will take on either Odessa or New Mexico in a best of three series to start the 2008 CHL playoffs.
Neither team would manage a goal during a tight defensive first period, as both Dan McWhinney and Doug Groenestege stood tall in net for their clubs, turning aside eight and fifteen shots respectively.
In the second, the Gorillas would take a 1-0 lead off Austin Sutter's 23rd goal of the year scored at 4:05 on the power-play. Jamie Thompson would tie the game for the Bats, scoring at 7:01 knotting the game at 1-1 until Bill Vandermeer put Amarillo on top for good with his 33rd of the season at 12:38 of the middle frame.
Early in the third, Matt Miller would increase the Gorillas lead scoring his 20th goal of the season, becoming the fifth Gorilla player to reach the 20-goal plateau. Daniel Veenema's late goal for Austin would make things interesting, but Amarillo would hold on for the final :56 to secure the win, their first over the Bats this season.
The Gorillas have just two games remaining this season, both against New Mexico, with a home tilt tomorrow night and a road game on Saturday the 21st to finish out the season. Tomorrow's game starts at 7:05 PM.
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