Cotton Kings Game Night Preview

Published on March 8, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release


3/8/07 - NEW MEXICO SCORPIONS (27-20-6) @ LUBBOCK COTTON KINGS (21-27-7)

- 7:05 PM CITY BANK COLISEUM

IN THE HUNT

The Lubbock Cotton Kings get right back to work tonight, opening a three-in-three weekend and playing their only home game of the weekend, as they host the New Mexico Scorpions for a Southwest Division battle. Lubbock desperately needs standing points, entering the game four standing points behind Rio Grande Valley for the final playoff spot in the CHL's Southern Conference. Tonight's game is the only game scheduled tonight involving Southern Conference teams. Austin, who is two standing points ahead of Lubbock tied with Odessa, and Rio Grande Valley will gain a game-in-hand over Lubbock since they are off tonight. A Lubbock win would place them two standing points behind Rio Grande Valley and in a three way tie with Odessa and Austin. New Mexico can increase their three-point Southwest Division lead over Arizona with a win tonight. The Scorpions "magic number" for clinching a playoff spot is 10.

THE SERIES

This game is the seventh of eight match-ups on the season between the two teams and the third in Lubbock. The Scorps have had won five consecutive games in the series, until Lubbock won the previous meeting last Saturday 4-2. New Mexico is 5-1-0 in the series, and this match-up will be the 64th all-time meeting. Bobby Brown (4g,2a) leads the Kings in the season series with six points, while Lance Herauf (5g,4a) has nine points in the series to lead the Scorps'. Lubbock holds a 29-25-9 all-time record against the Scorps with former King Jan Melichercik leading the all-time series with 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points, while New Mexico holds the all-time advantage with a 34-21-8 mark. Former Scorpion Peter Ambroziak leads the series offensively with 59 points (20g,39a).

THE LAST TIME

3/3/07 - Four power play goals lifted the Lubbock Cotton Kings past the New Mexico Scorpions 4-2 at City Bank Coliseum.

New Mexico's Konrad Reeder snapped home the first score of the game while on the power play with 7:37 left in the first period. Lubbock's Bobby Brown tied the game while on the man-advantage with a shot from the point that zipped past Scorpions goaltender Scott Reid with 54 seconds left in the opening period.

Craig Minard gave the Cotton Kings the 2-1 lead during a 5-on-3 power play opportunity 6:03 into the second period. The goal gives the seventh-year pro a single-season career best four power play tallies. A pleasant déjà vu took place for Lubbock as Brown once again fired a shot from the point to convert on the power play. The contest's fourth man-advantage goal came with 9:50 remaining in the middle frame. The Cotton Kings increased their lead to three as Corey Rutt stole the puck in front of the Scorpions net, and then connected on a wrister with 1:05 left in the second period. New Mexico answered back 14 seconds later at the 19:09 mark as Ryan McLeod made it a 4-2 game.

Lubbock's J.F. Perras earns his fourth win in five starts (15-14-2) as he made 30 saves off of 32 Scorpion shots on net in 59:50 of action. Reid (6-6-3) takes the loss in net with 25 stops off of 29 Cotton Kings shots on goal in 58:33 of ice time. The Cotton Kings were 4-for-8 on the power play, while the Scorpions were 1-for-7 on the man-advantage.

ROSTER CHANGES

While Lubbock has made no changes for tonight's game, New Mexico has added forward Jeremy Garrison.

STANDINGS

Kings - 49 points, 5th place, 11 points back, Southwest Division.

Scorpions - 60 points, 1st place, Southwest Division.

TEAM LEADERS

Kings - Points: 50 Anders Strome / Bobby Brown, Goals: 27 Anders Strome, Assists: 32 Bobby Brown, Penalty Minutes: 201 Paul McBrien.

Scorpions - Points: 56 Christopher Robertson, Goals: 24 Mike Falk, Assists: 43 Rob Guinn, Penalty Minutes: 187 Kevin Harvey.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kings - Power play: 14.4% 14th, Penalty killing: 87.1% 2nd.

Scorpions - Power play: 14.9% 12th, Penalty killing: 77.5% 17th.

GOALTENDERS

Kings - JF Perras (15-14-3, 3 SO, 2.88), Kyle Stanton (6-13-4, 1 SO, 3.46).

Scorpions - David Cacciola (16-3-1, 0 SO, 2.59), Scott Reid (6-6-3, 0 SO, 2.85).

WHAT'S NEXT Lubbock - Friday, March 9th 7:00 PM @ Odessa Jackalopes Ector County Coliseum

New Mexico - Friday, March 9th 7:05 PM @ Amarillo Gorillas Cal Farley Coliseum

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 8, 2007


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