Cotton Kings Game Night Preview

December 16, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release


12/16/06 - LAREDO BUCKS (14-7-2) @ LUBBOCK COTTON KINGS (10-9-2)

- 7:05 PM LUBBOCK MUNICIPAL COLISEUM

THE BUCKS STOP HERE

The Lubbock Cotton Kings return home to the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum tonight to host the Southeast Division leading Laredo Bucks. The Bucks come in with a Southern Conference leading record of 14-7-2 and winners of their last two games. The Kings seek to end a four game winless streak (0-3-1) and a two-game home winless streak. Lubbock has lost seven of their last nine games, but still sits atop the Southwest Division by one standing-point. The Southwest Division, the CHL's only five-team division (largest), is separated by only two standing-points from first to last place.

THE SERIES

Tonight marks the second game of four on the season between the two clubs and the first of two in Lubbock. Laredo leads the season series with a 1-0-0 mark after defeating the Kings 5-1 on November 22nd. The meeting is also the 19th all time meeting between the two teams. Laredo has dominated the all-time series with a 14-1-3 series mark. Lubbock is 4-13-1 all-time against the Bucks. Laredo's Jeff Bes leads the all-time series with 18 points (4g,14a), while Lubbock is led in the series by former King Paul Fioroni, who has registered 10 points (1g,9a) all-time against the Bucks.

THE LAST TIME

11/22/06 - The Laredo Bucks scored five unanswered goals to defeat the Lubbock Cotton Kings 5-1 Wednesday night at the Laredo Entertainment Center in a battle of Southern Conference division leaders.

Lubbock converted on their first power play opportunity to open the contest's scoring. Stacey Bauman received a pass while streaking to the low point and flung a shot past Laredo goaltender Nathan Marsters 9:02 into the game for his fifth goal of the season (leads Kings defensemen) and his third power play marker on the season.

The Cotton Kings controlled the tempo during the second period and had some great scoring chances, but Marsters held the Kings off the board in the frame, while the Bucks cashed in on their opportunities in the period. Igor Aguronov tied the contest at 1-1 2:27 into the period by sending his own rebound past the left side of Kings goaltender Kyle Stanton. The Bucks grabbed their first lead of the game with 1:42 remaining with a shorthanded goal by Jeff Bes, who like Agurunov, scored a goal by converting on his own rebound opportunity.

Laredo never looked back from there, scoring a trio of third period goals. Chris Korchinski was able to poke the puck away from Craig Minard and receive it back from Bobby Chaumont to fire it through the five-hole of Stanton 1:52 into the third for a 3-1 lead. Agarunov added his second of the night 5:54 later with a shot from the left circle. Leo Thomas closed the scoring with a goal as 5:04 remained for the 5-1 lead.

Lubbock out-shot the Bucks 33-32 in the loss, and Kyle Stanton suffered the loss. Marsters stopped 32 of 33 shots for the win. Lubbock was 1 for 8 on the power play while Laredo was 0 for 5.

ROSTER CHANGES

As of press time, the Lubbock Cotton Kings have not made any moves in preparation for tonight's game, while yesterday, Laredo activated Steve Weidlich from 45-Day Injured Reserve List, placed Kris MacPhee placed on the 45-Day Injured Reserve List, signed Ryan Olynyk (received via trade with Memphis) and traded Justin Togiai to the Austin Ice Bats.

STANDINGS

Kings - 22 points, 1st place, Southwest Division.

Bucks - 30 points, 1st place, Southeast Division.

TEAM LEADERS

Kings - Points: 23 Simon Watson, Goals: 13 Simon Watson, Assists: 12 Kyle Nosan, Penalty Minutes: 75 Paul McBrien.

Bucks - Points: 26 Adam Rivet, Goals: 10 Adam Rivet / Bobby Chaumont, Assists: 18 Serge Dube, Penalty Minutes: 38 Leo Thomas.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kings - Power play: 14.5% 12th, Penalty killing: 87.9% 3rd.

Bucks - Power play: 18.2% 7th, Penalty killing: 83.3% 10th.

GOALTENDERS

Kings - JF Perras (4-4-1, 0 SO, 2.65), Kyle Stanton (6-5-1, 1 SO, 3.23).

Bucks - Kevin Reiter (1-1-0, 0 SO, 1.52), Eric Marvin (8-3-2, 0 SO, 3.18).

WHAT'S NEXT

Lubbock - Thursday, December 19th

8:05 PM @ Rocky Mountain Rage Broomfield Events Center

Laredo - Tuesday, December 21st

7:00 PM @ Amarillo Gorillas Cal Farley Coliseum



Central Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2006


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