Ice Bats Comeback Runs Incomplete in 6-5 Loss
March 2, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
(North Richland Hills, TX) - After a shootout victory over Amarillo on Friday, the playoff train that appeared heading for Austin slowed down last night with a 3-2 loss to the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. On Sunday the Ice Bats traveled to the NYTEX Sports Center just outside Ft. Worth for a matinee battle with the Texas Brahmas. The Bats entered the game with a 1-3 record against Texas on the year, but that lone win was in Austin. Despite an incredible comeback, the Bats just fell short to the Brahmas in the 6-5 loss.
It was an offensive first period as four goals were scored between both teams. Aaron Wilson put the Bats on the board with his first goal of the year. It was a power play goal. Henry Kuster and RG Flath had the assists. The Brahmas countered with three unanswered goals of their own. Tyler Skworchinski, Grant Jacobsen, and Brent MacSween all tallied the goals for the Brahmas. Texas entered the first intermission with a 3-1 lead.
The second period was a wild one as both teams scored seven goals. Brent Macsween got things started with his second goal of the game, on a power play. Jacobsen and Mike Vellinga had the assists to put Texas up 4-1. The rest of the period turned into the RG Flath and Brendan Cook show, who each scored a pair of goals in the period to make it a game heading into the third. Flath used helpers from John Ronan and Henry Kuster to score his first goal of the game, making the score 4-2, Texas. Next Brendan Cook pulled the Bats within one when he scored his 28th of the season on assists from Darryl McArthur and Mike Bartlett. Then Flath tied it up at 4-4, on a shorthanded breakaway. Flath put one over the shoulder of David Cacciola from his knees after being pursued by two Brahmas defenders. Blair Manning tried to stop the bleeding for Texas when he scored to make it a 5-4, Texas lead. But Cook answered right back for the Bats with he paired up with Ted Vandermeer on a two-on-one to tie the game again at 5-5. The Brahmas were awarded a power play with 1:45 remaining in the period, and scored in the nick of time to take a 6-5 lead when Anders Strome scored with 1.2 seconds remaining in the period.
Strome's goal proved to be the game winner as neither team scored in the third period, and the Brahmas slipped away with a 6-5 win over the Ice Bats.
The Bats have the week off to prepare for the visiting Oklahoma City Blazers on Friday at Chaparral Ice Arena. The puck drops at 7:35 PM, and Friday game will be the first meeting between the Bats and Blazers since October 31st, when Oklahoma City smothered Austin, 7-3. Tickets are still available by calling 512-927-7825 or visiting icebats.com.
The Ice Bats are the AA Affiliate for the NHL's Minnesota Wild and the AHL's Houston Aeros (AAA). The team is currently playing its 12th season in Austin. Single game tickets and mini-plans are available by calling 512-927-7825 or visiting icebats.com.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2008
- Ice Bats Comeback Runs Incomplete in 6-5 Loss - Austin Ice Bats
- Rayz Beat Bees 5-3, Within Four Points Of Playoff Spot - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Hounds Complete Sweep Of Thunder With Shootout Win - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Brahmas Offense Brings The Heat To Ice Bats - Fort Worth Brahmas
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