Gorillas Get First Win in Shootout vs. Eagles

November 3, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release


Amarillo, TX - The Amarillo Gorillas got their first victory of the 07-08 season on Saturday night, taking care of the defending league champion Colorado Eagles, winning via shoot-out 5-4. Amarillo out-shot the Eagles 45-36 overall, and goaltender Dan McWhinney turned aside all five Colorado shooters in the shoot-out to secure the Gorillas first win of the year. Amarillo was 0-2 in previous shootouts this year, losing on home ice to Rocky Mountain and New Mexico.

Amarillo took a lead in the first period off Chris Lipsett's power play goal at 9:13, when he beat Eagles goaltender Ian Keserich with a wrist-shot from the bottom of the left faceoff circle. Colorado would tie it up with a Greg Pankewicz goal at 11:52, and the teams skated off tied at one after the first period.

In period two, the Eagles high-powered attack continued to put pressure on McWhinney and they broke through with a goal from Ed McGrane at 5:44 to take the lead 2-1. Amarillo would battle back however, with three unanswered goals from Jason Chafe, Grant Selinger and Matt Miller in a span of just 4:01. Seth Leonard would convert on the power-play for Colorado at the 16:11 mark however, cutting the Gorillas lead to 4-3 going into the final frame.

Despite strong play in the third, and an extended 5-on-3 power-play, the Gorillas could not get anything more past Keserich, and the Eagles completed the comeback with a goal from Scott Polaski at the 16:06 mark of the third to tie the game at four.

In overtime, neither team could put home the game winning goal, as the teams each hoisted three shots. For the second straight night, the Gorillas had given up a lead late and were headed to a shootout. The results on this night would be different however.

The Eagles and Gorillas would exchange missed opportunities early in the shootout, as McWhinney and Keserich each turned aside the first three shooters they faced. Then Aaron Schneekloth was unsuccessful for Colorado, Chris Lipsett stepped up and buried the first goal of the shootout, giving Amarillo a 1-0 lead after four shooters. McWhinney then turned aside Eagles high-scoring captain Greg Pankewicz, effectively sealing the victory for the Gorillas. McWhinney and the rest of the Gorillas bench erupted in celebration, as they took a giant step towards undoing some of their early-season misfortunes.

Matt Miller finished the game with one goal and two assists, giving him five points in the last two nights. Chris Lipsett had two goals, including the game winner in the shootout giving him four points in the last two games as well.

Amarillo will travel this weekend, taking on New Mexico on Friday and Rocky Mountain on Saturday. Both beat Amarillo already this year, and both were shootout losses.



Central Hockey League Stories from November 3, 2007


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