Kings Over Jacks 3-1
Published on March 9, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release
Odessa, TX - Anders Strome registered a pair of goals and goaltender Kyle Stanton was tremendous stopping 31 of 32 shots on goal to end a personal 17-game winless streak, as the Lubbock Cotton Kings defeated the Odessa Jackalopes 3-1 Friday night at the Ector County Coliseum. The win is the fourth consecutive game they have obtained at least one standing point. Their record improves to 22-27-8 and they leap past Odessa in the CHL's Southern Conference standings. With Rio Grande Valley losing to Corpus Christi 4-2, Lubbock moves within one standing point of Rio Grande Valley for the final playoff spot.
The first period was full of unique power play situations, but it was an even strength goal that would count as the only goal in the period. During 4-on-4 even strength play, Blaine Bablitz flew past the Cotton Kings defense and cut into the right slot lifting a shot into the top shelf over Kings goaltender Kyle Stanton. The goal was tallied with 2:42 remaining in the period to give the Jackalopes a 1-0 lead through the opening 20 minutes.
Lubbock responded in the second period by grabbing a goal in the opening and closing minute of the period. Strome fed a rebound past Jackalopes goaltender Derek Dolson 28 seconds into the period to capitalize on the power play. The goal marked the fourth fastest goal to begin a period this season by the Kings, and ironically Strome has three of the four to his name. With just under 16 seconds remaining, Simon Watson was unable to stuff a shot through the pads if Dolson, but Patrick Levesque was there to grab the loose rebound and put it in for a 2-1 lead. The goal by Levesque was the first even-strength goal scored by the Cotton Kings in the last four games.
The third period was highlighted by spectacular saves by Stanton, especially while the Jackalopes enjoyed a major power play after Levesque was issued a game misconduct after a major boarding penalty. Stanton kept the puck out of the net and Strome grabbed some insurance with his second goal of the game on an empty net goal with just under a minute remaining to seal the game at 3-1.
Stanton improved to 7-13-5 with the win, while Dolson suffered the loss stopping 31 of 33 shots. Lubbock out-shot the Jacks' 34-32 for just the second time in the last 20 games in which the Kings have out-shot their opponent. Lubbock was 1 for 8 on the power play, while holding Odessa scoreless on eight chances.
Lubbock closes out the three-in-three weekend Saturday night in Amarillo facing the Amarillo Gorillas for an I-27 series showdown.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 9, 2007
- Bucks Outlast Eagles 1-0 - Colorado Eagles
- RiverKings return to winning ways with 3-2 victory over Blazers - Mississippi RiverKings
- Laredo and Marvin Blank Colorado 1-0 - Laredo Bucks
- Sundogs Handed First Shootout Loss of Season - Arizona Sundogs
- Mudbugs Win 3-1 - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Three-Goal Barrage Rocks the Rage - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Rayz land in playoffs with 4-2 win - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Amarillo Uses Special Teams To Top Scorpions - New Mexico Scorpions
- Hounds Streak Ends But Team Remains in Fourth - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Kings Over Jacks 3-1 - Lubbock Cotton Kings
- Cotton Kings Recognized in CHL Best of the Best Poll - Lubbock Cotton Kings
- RiverKings make roster moves heading into tonight's game - Mississippi RiverKings
- Corpus Christi signs Jim Shepherd - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Killer Bees Game Notes - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Tonight's Match up - Tulsa Oilers
- Cotton Kings Road Preview - Lubbock Cotton Kings
- 10th Anniversary Team Announced - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- SteelHounds Clinch Playoff Berth Without Taking the Ice - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Playoff Dreams Still Alive - Austin Ice Bats
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