Cotton Kings Game Night Preview
December 23, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release
12/23/06 - AMARILLO GORILLAS (10-11-2) @ LUBBOCK COTTON KINGS (11-10-2) -
7:05 PM CITY BANK COLISEUM
CHRISTMAS IN THE KINGOM
The Lubbock Cotton Kings return to the City Bank Coliseum tonight to host the I-27 rival Amarillo Gorillas tonight to close out week's play. Lubbock is coming off a 6-2 loss to the New Mexico Scorpions, while Amarillo comes in following a 4-3 overtime shootout win in Oklahoma City last night. Only two standing-points separate these two teams and the entire division. Lubbock sits atop the Southwest Division with 24 standing-points with a 11-10-2 record and Amarillo is in fifth place in the division with 22 points off a 10-11-2 record.
THE SERIES
It is the fifth of 11 meetings on the year, the third of five in Lubbock and the 79th all-time meeting. Lubbock brings in a 44-22-12 all-time series record and Amarillo brings a 34-38-6 all-time series mark. Lubbock leads the season series 4-0-0 and is led by Trevor Weisgerber (4g,3a) and Kyle Nosan (2g,5a), who each have 7 points in the series. The Gorillas are led by Bill Vandermeer, who has five goals in the series. Former King Jan Melichercik (10g,34a) has 44 points against Amarillo to stand as the all-time leader in scoring against Amarillo for the Kings. Amarillo's all-time leader in scoring against Lubbock is former Gorilla Derek Hahn, who has 16 goals and 28 assists for 44 points.
THE LAST TIME
12/3/06 - Simon Watson's two goals and JF Perras' 38 saves helped the Lubbock Cotton Kings end a two-game road and overall winless streak, as the Kings defeated the Amarillo Gorillas 3-1 Sunday night at the Cal Farley Coliseum. The win improves the Kings Southwest Division leading record to 10-6-1.
The first period was filled with power play opportunities, with the teams combining for seven power play opportunities. The Kings received five man-advantages in the period and they capitalized on one of them with a goal by Watson. Craig Minard and Jason Beatty set up Watson for a one-time blast from the low-point past Shawn Conschafter with 1:50 remaining to take a 1-0 lead through the first period.
Watson added his second goal of the contest with 7:26 remaining in the second period of play with a snap shot from the top of the zone that snuck past Conschafter. Mike Carter grabbed his first goal of the season 56 seconds later with a shot from the left circle for a 3-0 lead. Amarillo's first goal came with 2:44 remaining with David Silverstone tucking the puck past Perras. Silverstone's goal ended Perras' shutout sequence at a pro career high 78 minutes (78:00).
Amarillo received four power play opportunities in the final frame, but the Kings defense and Perras were able to hold off any late Gorillas rally.
The apes out-shot the Kings 39-27, but Perras 38 stops improved his record to 4-3-0. Conschafter suffered his second consecutive loss to the Kings by allowing three goals. Teams combined for 18 power play opportunities, with Lubbock going 1 for 9 and holding the Gorillas scoreless on their 9 chances.
ROSTER CHANGES
Lubbock has not made any moves as of press time in regards to tonight's game. Yesterday, Amarillo added goaltender Garth Carrell to the roster.
STANDINGS
Kings - 24 points, 1st place, Southwest Division.
Gorillas - 22 points, 5th place, 2 points back, Southwest Division.
TEAM LEADERS
Kings - Points: 24 Simon Watson, Goals: 14 Simon Watson, Assists: 12 Kyle Nosan / Trevor Weisgerber, Penalty Minutes: 87 Paul McBrien.
Gorillas - Points: 29 Rich Hansen, Goals: 13 Bill Vandermeer, Assists: 18 Rich Hansen, Penalty Minutes: 122 David Silverstone.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kings - Power play: 13.8% 13th, Penalty killing: 87.7% 3rd.
Gorillas - Power play: 16.4% 9th, Penalty killing: 82.6% 11th.
GOALTENDERS
Kings - JF Perras (5-5-1, 1 SO, 2.71), Kyle Stanton (6-5-1, 1 SO, 3.23).
Gorillas - Shawn Conschafter (5-6-1, 1 SO, 3.47), Jamie Vandespyker (5-5-1, 0 SO, 3.25), Garth Carrell (0-0-0, 0 SO, 0.00).
WHAT'S NEXT
Lubbock - Tuesday, December 26th
7:05 PM vs. Odessa Jackalopes City Bank Coliseum
Amarillo - Tuesday, December 26th
7:05 PM @ Wichita Thunder Kansas Coliseum
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