Jacks Head Home with 2-0 Series Lead
April 17, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Odessa Jackalopes News Release
ALLEN, TX - Two goals in the opening minutes of the third period turned a 3-1 lead for the Odessa Jackalopes into a 5-2 win over the Allen Americans on Sunday night at the Allen Event Center. With the win the Jackalopes take a 2-0, series lead over Allen in their best-of-five, Conference Semifinal series.
Games three and four are scheduled to be played this week back in Odessa. Joel Martin stopped 26 shots to win his fifth straight playoff start. The Jacks also won their fifth straight contest after dropping game one to Texas in the previous round.
Todd Robinson led all skaters with four points (two goals, two assists) in the game. He also extended his point streak to 23 games stemming back to the regular season.
Matt Gens struck on a slap shot from the top of the right circle just 28 seconds into the third period, before Jeff Pierce tallied a breakaway goal less than two minutes later to extend Odessa's lead to 5-1 and put the game out of reach for the Americans.
The Jacks capitalized on the power play in the first period to take a 2-0 lead, after Allen's Kip Brennan was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding. Todd Robinson banked a shot off the back of Americans' goaltender Chris Whitley and Sebastien Thinel tipped a Robinson shot in the net midway through.
The two teams traded goals in the second period as Patrick Mbaraga scored his first of the playoffs at 8:56 to make it 3-0, Odessa. Jarret Lukin scored a rebound goal from the left circle to put Allen on the board with just under seven minutes to play in the frame.
The end of the game was marred by a number of penalties by the Americans that included additional game misconducts for Colton Yellow Horn and Liam Huculak. Allen racked up 35 minutes in penalties with seven seconds left to play in the contest.
Whitley stopped 18 shots for Allen in the loss.
The Jackalopes are now one win away from advancing to their third consecutive Conference Final round.
Game three is set for Tuesday night at the Ector County Coliseum in Odessa. Game time is 7:05 PM CST. The action can be heard on Classic Rock 102.1 FM.
The Odessa Jackalopes are the Central Hockey League affiliate for the NHL's New York Islanders and the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The team is currently in the middle of its 14th season. Season tickets, mini-plans, and single game tickets are available by calling (432) 552-7825 or visiting jackalopes.org.
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Central Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2011
- Jacks Head Home with 2-0 Series Lead - Odessa Jackalopes
- Jackalopes Stymie Americans 5-2, Lead Best-Of-Five Series 2-0 - Allen Americans
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