Blazers Bounce Back, Top Kings 4-3 in SO

November 17, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release


Oklahoma City, OK - The Oklahoma City Blazers not only bounced back from a 3-0 deficit, but they bounced back from a 2-1 shootout deficit, as Peter Robertson's shootout goal in the seventh round of the shootout went unmatched to lead the Blazers past the Southwest Division leading Lubbock Cotton Kings 4-3 (SO) Friday night in front of 7,923 at the Ford Center. Despite the tough loss that ended the Kings three-game winning streak, Lubbock was able to gain a standing point by pushing the game into overtime, which gives them a 7-3-1 record and extends their lead atop the division to three standing points (Arizona lost in regulation).

Thirty seconds after the Cotton Kings built a 3-0 lead with a goal by Simon Watson with 9:55 remaining in the second period, Blazers forward Ryan Watson mounted the comeback with a goal. Dallas Flaman cut the Blazers deficit to 3-2 8:09 into the third period by scooping a loose puck in a mad scramble in front of Kings goaltender Kyle Stanton and slipping it into the net. 4:22 later, Stanton attempted to poke a pass from the corner out of the zone, but jousted it right to the stick of Marc Connors between the slots. Connors stuffed it into the net to tie the game at 3-3.

In overtime, the Kings battled through a Blazers power play during the 4-on-4 five-minute portion to force the shootout. Lubbock received goals by Philippe Lacasse and Bobby Brown in the first two rounds, but Sebastien Centomo shut the door the rest of the way. Oklahoma City was able to match the two goals in the fourth round by Michel Beausoleil's goal before Robertson's marker proved to be the difference in the seventh round. Lubbock has the final shot to push the shootout into the eighth round, but the puck hopped on its side while Marc Bianchi was striding in and he couldn't get the shot over Centomo's glove.

Special teams play helped the Cotton Kings obtain an early 1-0 lead through the first period of play. Lubbock had five power play opportunities in the opening period, but even though they came out empty-handed in the period, one of their opportunities led to a goal by Jimmy Callahan. A shot by Stacey Bauman from the point during the close of a power play led to a series of rebound chances by Lacasse and Watson before the puck came free to Callahan, who was able to put it past Centomo with 3:19 remaining in the period (four seconds after the close of the power play opportunity). Lubbock was stingy defensively in the first period, limiting the Blazers to just three shots in the period. The Kings prevented a shot on goal for the first 11 minutes of the game.

Lubbock was able to convert on the power play in the second period. Simon Watson stole a puck in his offensive zone and sent a shot from the left side past Centomo 3:05 into the period for his first professional unassisted goal. Another defense collapse seven minutes later led to another goal by Watson to give the Kings a 3-0 advantage. Everything went downhill from there for the Kings.

Stanton's record dropped to 6-1-1 with the overtime loss, as he stopped 24 of 27 shots. Centomo stopped 28 of 31 shots to improve his record to a perfect 5-0-0. Lubbock was 1 for 8 on the power play, while Oklahoma City was 0 for 9. The Kings have held the opposition 0 for 25 in the last three games on the power play.

Lubbock will look to end their two-game road winless streak Saturday night in Amarillo, as they close the weekend three-in-three set with a I-27 rivalry tilt against the Gorillas at 7PM inside the Cal Farley Coliseum.



Central Hockey League Stories from November 17, 2006


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