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Catters Salvage Point with Shootout Loss, Streak Stalls at Eleven

February 15, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Texas Wildcatters News Release


Johnstown, PA-- A depleted roster of just 15 skaters gave a gutsy performance Friday night as the Texas Wildcatters recovered from a three-goal deficit to salvage a point in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Johnstown Chiefs.

Jordie Preston gave the Catters the early lead as he ripped a nasty wrister over the blocker of Jason Bacashihua on a 2-on-1 with Dan Welch at 6:14 of the first period, but Johnstown answered less than two minutes later as Vincent Zaore scored on a partial breakaway with a backhand deke that beat Jeff Pietrasiak through the five-hole to knot the score at one.

In the following minutes a Moises Gutierrez wrist shot would ring off the crossbar and Scott Champagne would spark another offensive chance for the Catters at 13:26, winning a foot race to a cleared puck inside the Chief's zone and corralling it just in time to center it to Welch on the doorstep, only to have Bacashihua snuff out the attempt.

The Chiefs would lead 2-1 after a one-timer by Jean Desrochers from Andrew Martens beat Pietrasiak on the glove side at 17:06. The Wildcatters would get their second power play just seconds after the goal, but Bacashihua would come up with several key saves to send the Wildcatters to the locker room down 2-1 despite out-shooting the home team 12-8 in the frame.

Johnstown would dominate the early action of the second period, culminating in a Rowe goal on a snap shot from the slot to make the score 3-1 before Texas could muster a shot on goal.

The deficit would grow to 4-1 as Mike Sgroi trickled in a shot past Pietrasiak for the second Johnstown power play goal of the night at 8:28.

Coach Malcolm Cameron would call a timeout following the goal and attempt to motivate and reenergize his squad and check the health of Pietrasiak, who was dinged in the knee by a shot in warm-ups. Pietrasiak would remain in the game, supported by only an emergency backup goalie following Houston's recall of Anton Khudobin earlier this week. Two Texas goals less than a minute apart would prove Cameron's efforts effective.

The Catters cut the lead to 4-2 with 4:03 remaining after Brandon Benedict capitalized on a 3-on-1 with Champagne and Kevin Baker, blasting home a one-timer at 15:57.

Just 40 seconds later Colin Nicholson would streak down the left wing and put a tough shot on net, forcing Bacashihua to make a tremendous sprawling save but leaving the net open for Welch to put home the rebound and bring Texas to within a goal, 4-3.

The Catters would complete the comeback 4:36 into the final frame as a David Schulz slap shot from the right point would sneak through a Nicholson screen and past Bacashihua to make the score 4-4, stunning the Cambria County War Memorial crowd.

An extraordinary individual effort by Welch appeared to yield the go-ahead goal as he came careering down the right wing during a mid-period power play. The puck shot over the shoulder of Bacashihua and into the net as Welch was ridden into the net by two Johnstown defensemen, sending the goal off its moorings. Referee Barry Pochmara waved the goal off, indicating the net was dislocated before the puck went in.

Johnstown would take their timeout with 1:47 remaining, and each team would muster one more futile offensive rush before the game continued into what would be a thrilling overtime.

Pietrasiak would make the save of the game for Texas deep into a Johnstown overtime power play, moving to his right and robbing a Randy Rowe one-timer just off the goal mouth.

Bacashihua would respond with a great save for the Chiefs with 29 seconds remaining in the overtime period, scrambling to grab a fluttering puck with his blocker glove after pileup in front of the net left the cage virtually empty. The two squads would continue the high-energy play until the buzzer.

The Wildcatters would fall behind 1-0 in the first round of the shootout after John McNabb was stoned on the first Texas attempt and Alexander Imbeault scored what would prove to be the game winner on Pietrasiak. Though he would allow no further goals, Welch, Benedict, Ross Carlson, and Baker all came up empty on their attempts for Texas and Johnstown (22-23-1-2) would claim the victory.

The Wildcatters played with the depleted roster due to the multiple AHL call-ups that have come this week. Besides Khudobin, John Adams, Max Taylor, and Cleve Kinley all received a 'AAA' summons in the midst of the current six-game northern road trip that concludes tomorrow night in Reading, PA at 6:05 CT.

The Catters (39-4-3-5, 86 points) claim a point with the shootout loss though their league-high eleven-game winning streak comes to an end. The first-place Wildcatters increase their streak without a regulation loss to 14 games, climbing closer to their ECHL-record of 23 games set earlier this season.

The Wildcatters return home for three-game series versus the Columbia Inferno February 22-24. Jack in the Box Night is February 22 and PINK IN THE RINK arrives February 23. Come see the pink ice of Ford Arena and bid on special pink jerseys and sticks as the Wildcatters team up with the Julie Rogers "Gift of Life" Program in this breast cancer fundraiser event.

The Texas Wildcatters are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild and the AHL's Houston Aeros. Join the Catters march to the Kelly Cup Playoffs! Book your group by calling 409.951.5500 or log on to www.wildcattershockey.com.



ECHL Stories from February 15, 2008


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