El Paso Looks to Extend Home Winning Streak Against Lubbock
December 26, 2002 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
El Paso Buzzards News Release
EL PASO, Texas â After sweeping a weekend series, the El Paso Buzzards are hotter than a heat wave and look to gain ground in the playoff race as they host the Lubbock Cotton Kings at 7 p.m., Friday, at the El Paso County Coliseum. Catch all of the action on KHEY 1380 AM, El Paso's Sports Ticket with play-by-play announcer Michael LaPlaca and Michael Hissam doing the color commentary.
The will be first of two critical games for the Buzzards as they move back into the playoff hunt. El Paso gained four points over the weekend and are only seven behind New Mexico for third place and 10 for the fourth and final playoff spot. The schedule works in the Buzzards favor as well because from Dec. 27 to Jan. 31, the Buzzards play division rivals Lubbock three times and Odessa and New Mexico twice.
The Buzzard have struggled this season against Lubbock going 0-3-0 against the Cotton Kings. In the previous matchup, the Cotton Kings beat the Buzzards 5-2 at the Nest. Buzzards' right wingers Derrell Upton and Jeremy Vokes scored the Buzzards' goals. The Buzzards are riding the momentum of a two-game winning streak. The Buzzards smashed New Mexico 4-2 behind left winger Troy Linna's two goals on Friday and defeated the San Angelo Saints 5-3 Saturday behind left winger Russ Guzior's hat trick. In addition, Guzior was named the CHL Player of the Week for his stellar performance against New Mexico and San Angelo. Guzior accumulated a hat trick and an assist on Saturday and a goal on Friday.
Lubbock leads the overall series 13-17-3 against El Paso. The Cotton Kings come into the matchup with some new personnel. Last week, the Cotton Kings promoted assistant coach Tracy Egeland to serve as Lubbock's head coach and director of hockey operations for the remainder of the season. The injury bug hit Lubbock this past weekend. Goaltender Neil Savary, defenseman Craig Binns and Derek Holland are all out with knee injuries. With all the knee injuries lingering around, the Cotton Kings made their first roster addition of the season adding former Cotton Kings defenseman Luke Volk back to the roster.
WHERE THEY STAND
BUZZARDS - Coming into Friday's action, the Buzzards (18 points) are in fourth place in the Southwest Division, but are just seven points behind New Mexico for third place. The Buzzards are 6-9-1 at home, 8-16-2 overall, but 4-5-1 in their last 10 games. El Paso has 72 goals for and has allowed 94. Buzzards center Jeff Scharf leads the team in scoring with 12 goals and 17 assists (29 points) and is second in the CHL with four short-handed goals. The Buzzards are ninth in the league on the power play with a 15.1 percent success rate. At the friendly confines of the Nest, the Buzzards have earned the sixth best power play in the league with an 18.8 percent success rate. The Buzzards are fourteenth in the league on penalty kill opportunities with a 78.4 percent rate. Also, the Buzzards are 6-6-1 when they score first.
LUBBOCK â The Cotton Kings (28 points) come into the game 12-9-4 overall, but 5-5-4 on the road, are in second place in the Southwest Division. Lubbock has scored 75 goals, but allowed 74 this season. The Cotton Kings' road power play success rate is 10th in the CHL at 10.8 percent, but 14th in overall power play conversions with an 11.8 percent success rate. The Cotton Kings are 11th in the league on penalty kill situations with an 82.6 percent success rate. Cotton Kings' forwards Blaz Emersic (10 goals, 20 assists) and Derek Gauthier (10 goals, 12 assists) lead the team in scoring. The Cotton Kings are 5-4-1 in their last ten games.
Central Hockey League Stories from December 26, 2002
- Brahmas ready to renew Red River rivalries this weekend - Fort Worth Brahmas
- El Paso Looks to Extend Home Winning Streak Against Lubbock - El Paso Buzzards
- Odessa @ Lubbock Preview - Lubbock Cotton Kings
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