Cotton Kings Road Game Preview
December 15, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release
12/15/06 -LUBBOCK COTTON KINGS (10-9-1) @ CORPUS CHRISTI RAYZ (10-10-4)
- 7:05 PM AMERICAN BANK CENTER RADIO- KKAM 1340 AM
THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY FACE THE RAYZ TONIGHT
The Lubbock Cotton Kings make their only trip of the season to the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi tonight seeking to end a season high three-game winless streak, as they battle the Corpus Christi Rayz for the first time this season. The "good" for the Kings is that they co-lead the Southwest Division (with Arizona) with a 10-9-1 record, but the "bad" is the Kings have dropped six of their last eight games and the "ugly" is the Kings enter the game on a 77:39 scoreless sequence (one goal in their last 157:46) after their 6-0 loss in Odessa Saturday. Lubbock was off last night as Corpus Christi suffered a 3-2 loss at home to the Austin Ice Bats. The Rayz sit four standing-points behind Laredo entering tonight, tied for second place in the Southeast Division. The Rayz have not fared much better than the Kings in their last ten games, as they have a 3-4-3 record in that span. Corpus Christi is one of two teams in the CHL with a sub-.500 home record (4-7-0 at home).
THE SERIES
Tonight marks the 18th all-time meeting and the first of three contests on the season against the Rayz. Lubbock went 3-1-0 against the Rayz last season, winning both games played in Corpus Christi in overtime. Kyle Nosan led returning Kings last season with 3 assists. The all-time series is led by Lubbock with a dominate 14-2-1 record against Corpus Christi's 3-11-3 mark in the series. Former Kings forward Jan Melichercik leads the all-time series with 15 points (5g,10a), while the Rayz all-time series leader is former Corpus Christi member Geoff Bumstead, who had 6 assists.
THE LAST TIME
3/12/06 - Mike Brolsma's overtime game winning goal with 52-seconds remaining in overtime clinched a 2-1 comeback victory for the Lubbock Cotton Kings over the Corpus Christi Rayz Sunday night at the AmericanBank Center.
Trailing 1-0 heading into the third period, the Kings rallied back with a goal by Jon Foster with just 2:49 remaining. Foster, who was acquired by Lubbock in a trade from Corpus Christi, paid back his former squad with a goal from the left slot past goaltender Scott Reid. With under five seconds remaining, Paul Fioroni appeared to push a loose puck through traffic on the right side for the game winner and Official Keith Kaval signaled goal after initially waving the goal off, but after a chat with the goal judge, he waved the goal off, forcing overtime.
The ice was tilted in the opening period with the Rayz controlling the period, but the results were not shown on the scoreboard. The Rayz out-shot the Cotton Kings 15-4 and held the Kings from getting their first shot on goal for the opening 9:31 of the games, but the game was scoreless after the period.
Lubbock was able to get some offense going in the second period, out-shooting the Rayz 19-11 in the period, but it was the Rayz coming away with the end result. On the Rayz fifth power play opportunity of the period, Matt Frick fired a shot from the point that deflected off a Kings defender and skipped into the top shelf past goaltender Brett Koscielny for a 1-0 lead.
The goal disallowed was not the only thing the Kings had to overcome, as they had to face 9 power play advantages from the Rayz, who capitalized on one of the man advantages. Lubbock was 0 for 3 on the power play and couldn't muster up a power play goal. Koscielny was solid in net and even had to battle through a third period injury, which appeared to spark the Kings play. He stopped 39 of 40 shots for the victory to improve to 9-10-1. The overtime win is the second consecutive overtime win by the Kings in their two visits to Corpus Christi this season and they closed the season series with a 3-1-0 record against the Rayz.
ROSTER CHANGES
The Cotton Kings and Rayz have not made any roster moves in preparation for tonight's game.
STANDINGS
Kings - 21 points, tied-1st place, Southwest Division.
Rayz - 24 points, tied-2nd place, Southeast Division.
TEAM LEADERS
Kings - Points: 22 Simon Watson, Goals: 13 Simon Watson, Assists: 12 Kyle Nosan, Penalty Minutes: 75 Paul McBrien.
Rayz - Points: 29 Justin Quenneville, Goals: 13 Justin Quenneville, Assists: 18 Jason Baird, Penalty Minutes: 64 Justin Quenneville.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kings - Power play: 15.2% 12th, Penalty killing: 88.2% 3rd.
Rayz - Power play: 13.9% 14th, Penalty killing: 82.9% 11th.
GOALTENDERS
Kings - J.F. Perras (4-4-0, 0 SO, 2.76), Kyle Stanton (6-5-1, 1 SO, 3.23).
Rayz - Ron Vogel (8-6-3, 0 SO, 3.09), Brent Zelenewich (2-4-1, 1 SO, 2.53).
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