Gorillas tap third period well, beat Oilers 2-1
January 30, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release
Amarillo, TX 1/30/09 - The Amarillo Gorillas used two third-period power play goals to come from behind and defeat the Tulsa Oilers 2-1 Friday night at the Amarillo Civic Center.
The first period left the scoreboard blank, with each team's netminder shutting down the opposition's offense. Amarillo's A.J. Bucchino and Tulsa's Kevin St. Pierre each held down their respective forts, with Bucchino making 12 first-period saves and St. Pierre stopping eight shots.
Tulsa got on the board early in the second period with a shorthanded goal from Michel Beausoleil. With the Gorillas on a power play, Beausoleil took the puck and center ice and circled into the Amarillo zone. He then unleashed a wrist shot past a screened Bucchino to earn first blood for the Oilers.
The score remained 1-0 through two periods of play, with the Gorillas struggling to get the puck past St. Pierre. Amarillo got their first marker at 4:46 of the third period. With the Oilers a man down after a too-many men bench minor, Jake Morissette knocked home a rebound from a Sam Ftorek shot to tie the game at one.
After being held scoreless in their second man advantage of the evening, the Gorillas went back on the power play following a roughing call against Tulsa's Chris Kovalcik. Midway through the power play, Sam Ftorek hit Travis Lisabeth on a backdoor pass, as Lisabeth tipped the puck past St. Pierre to give the hosts their first lead of the evening.
The 2-1 advantage for Amarillo would stand, despite Tulsa getting a number of late opportunities. Bucchino (2-4-0) fought off three Tulsa shots in the final minute of playing time (and 32 in the game) to capture his second win of the season and the Gorillas' (12-26-1) second straight victory.
Ftorek managed two assists for the third straight game, leading offensive efforts for the Gorillas. Amarillo will look for their first three-game winning streak of the season Saturday night when they host the Oklahoma City Blazers at the Amarillo Civic Center. For ticket information, please call (806) 242-PUCK.
The AMARILLO GORILLAS are celebrating their seventh season in "The Jungle" by offering special ticket prices to groups and parties! Call the Gorillas ticketing office at (806) 242-PUCK (7825) for more information, or drop by the Gorillas' new office at 901 S. Buchanan in downtown Amarillo.
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