Cats Open 2016 with 2-1 Victory over Amarillo
Published on January 2, 2016 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
Starting off 2016, the Wildcats still had a bit of a bitter taste in their mouths after losing their last three home games to their rival Lone Star Brahmas. However, they ridded themselves of those memories on Saturday night, hanging on to defeat the Amarillo Bulls by a score of 2-1.
The first 20 minutes were dominated by the Wildcats for the second consecutive night. They outshot the Bulls 17-6 in the first period, but Amarillo's superstar goaltender Anton Martinsson stumped the Cats once again. A couple of fortunate breaks for the Bulls kept the game scoreless, as Austin Beaulieu and Michael Rounds each drew iron with shots in the first period.
The middle period started similarly to the first; chance after chance was earned by the Wildcats, but they had a difficult time solving Martinsson. The Bulls did well to keep many of the Cats' shots to the outside and give their goaltender a chance to stop the puck. However, 3:45 into the second period, Austin Albrecht managed to slice the puck through the Amarillo defense and onto the stick of Jonny Lazarus, who tucked the puck past a fazed Martinsson to open the scoring for the Wildcats.
The magic between Albrecht and Lazarus has not appeared to have vanished, as they each set each other up for scoring opportunities on multiple occasions. Late in the period, Holden Cronin took an elbowing penalty, setting up the Bulls for their second power play of the game. Not only did the Wildcats' shorthanded units survive the night, they thrived. They generated substantial offense on the penalty kill, and 16 minutes into the period, Austin Beaulieu sniped a shot from the top of the right circle low on the blocker side to extend the Wildcats' lead to two.
The Bulls fought their way back into the contest. They outshot the Wildcats in the third period and earned themselves some scoring chances on Justin Kapelmaster, who was as much on his game as Martinsson was. He maintained his shutout until the seventh minute in the third period, when Charlie Singerhouse one-handed the puck between Kapelmaster's pads and into the net on a shorthanded breakaway.
Despite a flurry of chances thrown on goal, Kapelmaster slammed the door and would not allow another shot to sneak through, and backstopped his team to its 25th win of the season.
Kapelmaster made 26 stops for his 18th victory of the season, while Martinsson made 41 saves for his 18th defeat. The Wildcats will host the red-hot Corpus Christi IceRays on Friday, January 8th and Saturday, January 9th for Military Appreciation Night. The Wildcats will be sporting specialty jerseys which will be raffled off after the game, and all active and retired military members enter the KYC for free.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2016
- Bulls Fall to Wildcats 2-1 - Amarillo Bulls
- Brahmas earn series split with 6-2 win - Odessa Jackalopes
- IceRays Come from Behind to Sweep Topeka, 2-1 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Cats Open 2016 with 2-1 Victory over Amarillo - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Tomahawks Sweep Brown Bears with 3-1 Victory - Johnstown Tomahawks
- Bulls Visit Wildcats Tonight - Amarillo Bulls
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