Ice Bats Sweep Their Way into Playoff Contention
February 10, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
(Laredo, TX) - Sunday at the Laredo Entertainment Center was the third and final installment of the Bats/Bucks weekend series. Austin took the first two games and was looking for the sweep over the Bucks as well as their fourth straight win against Laredo. It was a gritty back and forth game, that needed a shootout to decide the victor. The Bats edged Laredo 2-1 in the shootout round to pull out the 4-3 victory over the Bucks.
Unlike the two previous games, there was scoring in the first period between the Bats and Bucks as Mike Bartlett scored his 13th of the season. Brendan Cook added the assist, and the Bats entered the locker room at the end of the first with a 1-0 lead.
Tensions were increased in the second period as 10 penalties were handed out between the two teams. Cook put the Bats up 2-0 with his 20th goal of the season. Bartlett and RG Flath had the assists. Later in the second, Laredo would get on the board during a 5-on-3 power play. Jeff Bes went top shelf to cut the Bats lead to 2-1 as both teams headed into the second intermission.
Laredo tied the game up in the third with Jeff Bes' second goal of the game. Kurtis Kisio would then put the Bats back on top with hi fifth goal of the season and a Dan Veenema assist. Next, Adam Rivet tied the game at 3-3 on a shorthanded goal. The third ended in a 3-3 tie, and neither team could score in overtime so the Bats and Bucks went to a shootout.
In the shootout RG Flath and John Neal scored for the Ice Bats, Chris Korchinski for Laredo, and the Ice Bats escaped Laredo with a 4-3 win. The Bats also sweep the weekend series and leap frog Corpus Christi and Amarillo into the fifth and final playoff spot in the CHL's Southern Conference.
Next up for the Bats is a Friday home contest against Rio Grande Valley at Chaparral Ice Arena. The puck drops at 7:30 PM. 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 February 10, 2008
- Bucked: Laredo Falls In Shootout To Austin 4-3 - Laredo Bucks
- Ice Bats Sweep Their Way into Playoff Contention - Austin Ice Bats
- Hounds Finish Series On High Note With Win Over Kings - Youngstown SteelHounds
- 'Bugs Drop Second Straight to Brahmas - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- SteelHounds shutout RiverKings 4-0 - Mississippi RiverKings
- Bucks And Bats Part Three Today - Laredo Bucks
- Colorado Beats Arizona 3-2 in OT - Colorado Eagles
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