Game 5: Austin 3, El Paso 1 (Austin leads series, 3-2)
Published on April 14, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
El Paso Buzzards News Release
S-T-P proved to be the Buzzards' bain once again, as the El Paso Buzzards increased defensive efforts couldn't thwart Austin's top line of Brett Seguin, Gerald Tallaire and Dan Price when Game 5 of the Southern Conference Finals was on the line. The Ice Bats completed a huge comeback by winning 3-1, taking all three of their home games and the lead in the best-of-seven series, 3-2.
After the Buzzards rendered the S-T-P line scoreless through the final two periods of Friday's Game 4 and the first two periods of Game 5, Price's physical play earned him a short rebound in the third period of a tie game. Price notched the game-winner at 12:35 of the third.
As they have in four of the five games in the series, the Buzzards opened the scoring in the first period. Playing four-on-four after an Austin power play was negated by Jeff Greenlaw's hook on Mike Rees, Van Burgess found a lane along the left wing. Denied an angle into the net, Burgess was still able zip a pass to Rees who tapped the puck up and over outstretched Ice Bats' goaltender Bryan McMullen at 16:18.
El Paso worked through nearly four minutes of Austin power plays to begin the second and did manage a couple of shorthanded breakaways. But, as he was last night in the Ice Bats 2-1 Game 4 win, McMullen proved to be a difference-maker.
In the second period Austin got the equalizer from third line centerman Tab Lardner, who notched his third goal against the Buzzards on a nifty rebound chip that arced over El Paso goalie Jeff Levy at 7:11.
And again the Ice Bats continued to hammer away at El Paso, with Seguin added the empty net clincher at 19:13.
While the Buzzards had their best offensive production of the playoffs in generating 30 shots, Austin hammered away with its best offensive showing, too, overshadowing another great performance by Levy with 47 shots on goal.
Game 6 returns the series to the El Paso County Coliseum Monday night.
The winner of this series will face the Memphis River Kings, who upended the three-time defending WPHL President's Cup champion Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 4-2 in Game 7 of the Northern Conference Finals last night.
Central Hockey League Stories from April 14, 2002
- Game 5: Austin 3, El Paso 1 (Austin leads series, 3-2) - El Paso Buzzards
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