Brahmas bounce 'Bugs in home opener
Published on October 31, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Worth Brahmas News Release
Let it be known that Fort Worth Brahmas defenseman Brad Lukowich has a flair for the dramatic.
The two-time Stanley Cup champion and former Dallas Star assisted on the game tying shorthanded goal late in the third period and then scored the game winning goal in a shootout to give the Brahmas a 2-1 shootout victory over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs on Saturday night at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
Lukowich and the Brahmas trailed by a goal with less than four minutes remaining in the game. When Fort Worth defenseman Adam Davis was whistled for a cross checking penalty with 3:49 left in regulation, the outcome looked bleak for the Brahmas. However, just 28 seconds after the Davis penalty, the Brahmas tied the score. Lukowich carried the puck down the right wing side of Mudbug's zone and skated in front of the Bugs net. His short stuff shot was denied by Bossier-Shreveport goaltender Jeff Blair, but the rebound went directly to Fort Worth center Martin Paquet. Paquet hammered a shot into the Bossier-Shreveport net to tie the score at 1 with just 3:31 left in final period.
After a scoreless overtime, the game was decided in a shootout. Mudbugs forward Dan Wildfong scored on Bossier's first shootout attempt to give the visitors from Louisiana an early lead. However, Fort Worth winger Jan Jas tied it up on the Brahmas second shootout attempt. After Fort Worth goaltender Dan Murphy stopped the Bugs Chris Brassard, Ryan Manitowich and Craig Soke in succession, the Brahmas had a chance to win the game on their fifth and final shootout attempt. The boisterous crowd of 6,112 on hand at the FWCC rose to their collective feet as Fort Worth head coach Al Sims tabbed Lukowich to take the Brahmas last shot. Lukowich delivered the decisive goal, snapping a shot through the legs of Blair to give Fort Worth the dramatic come from behind win over the Mudbugs.
For Lukowich, it was his third goal of the season and his second consecutive game winning goal for the Brahmas. The Tampa Bay Lightning standout also scored the clinching goal for Fort Worth in the Brahmas 7-6 win at Tulsa on Friday night.
Murphy enjoyed his best game of the young season to earn the win in net for Fort Worth. The former AHL All Star stopped 24 of the 25 Bugs shots he faced in regulation and 4 of the 5 Bossier shootout attempts to get his first win of the year. Blair was the hard luck loser for the Mudbugs, as he made 35 saves in the defeat.
With the win, Fort Worth improved their record on the young season to 2-1-1 and moved into first place in the Northeast Division. The Brahmas will now be off until this Friday, Nov. 5, when they continue their six game homestand with a game at the FWCC against the Austin Ice Bats. Face off for Friday night is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and the first 2,000 fans through the turnstiles will receive a free set of Brahmas cheerstix courtesy of WB 33. For additional information, please contact the Brahmas office at (817) 336-4423.
Central Hockey League Stories from October 31, 2004
- Brahmas bounce 'Bugs in home opener - Fort Worth Brahmas
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