Bucks Sweep Bees With 3-0 Win
March 27, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release
HIDALGO, Texas â The Laredo Bucks finished off a three-game sweep of the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees with a 3-0 victory at the Dodge Arena on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd. The Bucks held the Bees to just one goal in the three games and advanced to the Southern Conference Finals for the second straight year. Bucks goalie David Guerrera stopped all 23 shots he faced to record his first playoff shutout. The Killer Bees did not score in the final 153:18 of the series. Games One and Two of the Southern Conference Finals will be played at the LEC this Friday and Saturday night. The Bucks will play the winner of the Amarillo-San Angelo series. For more information call (956) 718-BUCKS (2825) or log onto www.laredobucks.com.
The physical play started right off the bat as Bucks forward Steve Simoes and Killer Bees forward Ryan Shymr began pushing prior to the opening face off and had to be separated. The Bucks had the majority of the scoring chances in the period, but neither team was able to light the lamp. The Bucks out shot the Bees 11-9.
The Bucks continued to get chances in the second period. Forward Chris Grenville was stoned on a shot from the left circle on a terrific save by Killer Bees' goalie Jeff Levy five minutes in as Levy went post to post. Just under a minute late the Bucks finally cracked thru. Simoes cut thru the neutral zone and then slipped a pass into the right circle for defenseman Dion Hyman who just wristed the shot past Levy for a 1-0 lead at 5:59. With four minutes left in the period Guerrera made a spectacular save robbing Bees' defenseman Darcy Smith from the right circle to keep Rio Grande Valley off the scoreboard. Late in the period the Bucks went on the power play, but were unable to capitalize and extend the lead.
Bucks captain Brent Cullaton was penalized with just 17 seconds left in the second period and the Bees would work on the power play to start the third. The Bucks, who set a CHL record of 89.3% on the penalty kill this season, turned aside Rio Grande Valley power play unit. Cullaton stepped out of the box, caught a lead pass and streaked into the zone and unleashed a rocket slap shot that over whelmed Levy at 1:57 and gave the Bucks a 2-0 lead.
Moments later Cullaton delivered a literal knockout shot as he unloaded a terrific hit on Bees forward Jason Hawes. Late in the game the Bucks put the game away when forward Mike Amodeo slipped a nice pass backdoor to forward Adam Paiement who dangled and then slipped the puck into the net at 15:04 to complete the scoring. Guerrera stopped all ten shots he faced in period to complete the shutout. FINAL SCORE Laredo 3, Rio Grande Valley 0.
Guerrera is now 2-0 in the playoffs. Levy played well, but fell to 0-3 as he allowed three goals on 35 shots. The Bucks were 0-3 on the power play while Killer Bees were 0-5.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2004
- Bucks Will âThankâ Fans - Laredo Bucks
- Bucks Sweep Bees With 3-0 Win - Laredo Bucks
- Ice living like a cat with nine lives - OSC Original by Mike Wallin
- CHL Southern Conference Semifinal Game 3 Preview - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
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