Bucks Win Game One 4-2 In Front Of 7, 987 Fans At LEC
March 29, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release
LAREDO, TX- The Laredo Bucks beat the Odessa Jackalopes 4-2 Saturday night in game one of the Central Hockey League's Southern Conference Semi-Finals, in front of a of a season high 7,987 fans at the Laredo Entertainment Center. The Bucks lead the best of seven series one game to none, with game two Monday night at the LEC at 7pm.
Igor Agarunov scored two goals, with Adam Rivet tallying three points (1-2=3) to lead the Bucks. Laredo is now 13-3 all-time in playoff game one's, and 34-9 all-time at home in the playoffs.
"The crowd was awesome tonight, absolutely awesome. I ask every one to come out like that again on Monday....they were terrific and helped us win the game", said Bucks head coach/GM Terry Ruskowski after the win.
Jeff Bes scored the game-winning goal with 7:43 left in the third period to give Laredo a 3-2 lead. Bes took a loose puck at the top of the right circle and whipped it by Jackalopes goaltender Alexandre Vincent. It was Bes' 40th career CHL playoff goal.
Agarunov would tally his second goal of the night with 1:35 left, as he dug the puck out of the right corner, and headed towards the crease and slipped it by Vincent. Agarunov came into the game with three career playoff goals.
"I love Iggy (Agarunov), he's been with me for a while now and it's great to see him play well like that", Ruskowski said.
The first period showed a lot of intensity between the two teams, but niether team could light the lamp in a scoreless 20 minutes.
The Bucks had a chance to take an early lead with 4:20 left in the first period when Jeff Bes broke free past the Jackalopes defense, but was stopped by Odessa goalender Alexandre Vincent to keep the game scoreless.
There were two separate four-on-four chances in the first period, with the Bucks creating some traffic in front of the net, but Vincent came up big agains for Odessa.
Laredo outshot Odessa in the first period 20-7.
The Bucks took a 1-0 lead just 46 seconds into the second period, when they put a rush on in front of the Jackalopes net, and Adam Rivet scored off of a rebound over Vincent's right shoulder. James Hiebert took a pass from Chris Stanley on the left side of the slot, Hiebert flipped the puck towards Vincent who then kicked it away into the stick of Rivet, who cashed in with the goal. It was Rivet's fifth career posteason goal.
Odessa tied the game up at 1-1 with a little over seven minutes left in the second period when they tallied on the power-play. Alex Dunn sent a slap shot off the rebound from the high slot past Bucks goaltender Dustin Traylen. It was Dunn's first playoff goal.
Laredo would take the lead with just 1:01 left in the period as they struck on the power-play. Igor Agarunov sent a backhanded rebound past Vincent, off of a Steve Weidlich slap shot from the point. Agarunov took the rebound with his back to the net, and slipped it by Vincent to score his fourth career playoff goal.
The Bucks would outshoot the Jackalopes in the second period 14-4.
With the Bucks up 2-1 in the third period, Odessa tied the game up at 2-2 just 2:32 in. Mike Rutter sent a low shot from the right hash mark past Traylen to tie it up for the âJacks.
Then Bes and Agarunov came up with their goals to give the Bucks the 4-2 win.
For the game the Bucks outshot the âJacks 46-24.
Traylen picked up the win in net as he set aside 22 of 24 Odessa shots, with Vincent taking the loss stopping 42 of 46 Bucks shots.
During the second intermission the Bucks presented two separate checks for $10,00 apiece to the Sacred Heart Children's Home, and the South Texas Food Bank. Fans had the chance to purchase $5 tickets to the game, with all the proceeds going to the two charities.
Game two of the series is Monday night in Laredo. The first 2,500 fans enter the LEC will receive a free hot dog and soda, with the first 1,500 fans receiving Thunder Stix courtesy of Reliant Energy. Tickets start at $10, call 718-BUCK (2825), or go to the LEC box office.
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Central Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2008
- Bucks Win Game One 4-2 In Front Of 7, 987 Fans At LEC - Laredo Bucks
- Hounds fall to Eagles 5-0 in Game 2 - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Hounds Look To Even Series Tonight - Youngstown SteelHounds
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