Lubbock Cotton Kings Road Game Preview

February 16, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release


2/16/07 -LUBBOCK COTTON KINGS (17-23-4) @ LAREDO BUCKS (28-13-5)

- 7:30 PM LAREDO ENTERTAINMENT CENTER RADIO- KFYO 790 AM

THE JANNEY ERA BEGINS

The Lubbock Cotton Kings open a three-in-three weekend and a home-and-home series with the Laredo Bucks tonight in Laredo. The game marks the debut of Craig Janney as the Cotton Kings Head Coach. Lubbock has an opportunity to garner their first two-game winning streak since November 16th, as they are coming off a 3-2 win Sunday over Arizona. The defending CHL Champion Laredo Bucks come in with the Southern Conference's best record, but also with the Conference's longest active winless streak, which is at four games (0-3-1). The Bucks have also lost three consecutive home games and their last game at home resulted in a 6-1 loss to Corpus Christi Wednesday for their worst home loss in franchise history. Lubbock enters the game 14 standing points behind Southwest Division leading New Mexico (with a game in hand) and six standing points behind Rio Grande Valley for the final playoff spot (with two games in hand).

THE SERIES

This game is the third game of four on the season between the two clubs and the second of two in Laredo. The season series is tied 1-1-0. The meeting is also the 20th all time meeting between the two teams. Laredo has dominated the all-time series with a 14-2-3 series mark. Lubbock is 5-13-1 all-time against the Bucks. Laredo's Jeff Bes leads the all-time series with 18 points (4g,14a), while Lubbock is led in the series by former King Paul Fioroni, who has registered 10 points (1g,9a) all-time against the Bucks. This season, Laredo's Jeff Genovy leads the series in scoring with 3 points (all assists).

THE LAST TIME

12/16/07 - Lubbock Cotton King goaltender J.F. Perras stopped all 33 shots on goal from the Southern Conference leading Laredo Bucks for his first professional shutout, and the Kings tallied three second period goals for a 3-0 victory over the Bucks.

The first period was scoreless as Perras made 11 saves while the Cotton Kings out-shot Laredo 14-11 in the opening 20 minutes. Lubbock drew their first score at 2:50 from Simon Watson. The Waterloo, Ontario native's team-leading 14th goal of the season (leads CHL rookies) came with an extra attacker on the play during a delayed penalty. Just 3:55 later at the 6:45 mark, Ross McCain made it a two-goal lead as he slipped the puck past Laredo goaltender Eric Marvin from the right slot. The Cotton Kings collected their third goal of the night from Marc Bianchi with 1:17 remaining in the middle frame. The score was Bianchi's first professional goal, as he scooped a loose puck in front of the net and put it into the back of the net while Marvin was tied up outside the crease after colliding with Trevor Weisgerber.

In the shutout effort, Lubbock's Perras recorded a total of 33 saves for the victory. Laredo's Marvin stopped 33-of-36 Lubbock shots on net in the loss. Teams were ineffective on the man-advantage, as each team was 0 for 9.

ROSTER CHANGES

Lubbock had some roster changes earlier in the week with Michael Young added to the roster to fill the void left as Kyle Nosan and John Neal moved to the injured reserve list. .

STANDINGS

Kings - 38 points, 5th place, 14 points back, Southwest Division.

Bucks - 61 points, 1st place, Southeast Division.

TEAM LEADERS

Kings - Points: 42 Bobby Brown / Anders Strome, Goals: 23 Anders Strome, Assists: 28 Bobby Brown, Penalty Minutes: 150 Paul McBrien.

Bucks - Points: 47 Bobby Chaumont, Goals: 22 Bobby Chaumont, Assists: 29 Serge Dube, Penalty Minutes: 105 Neil Clark.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kings - Power play: 13.9% 14th, Penalty killing: 86.9% 3rd.

Bucks - Power play: 16.1% 9th, Penalty killing: 83.4% 11th.

GOALTENDERS

Kings - JF Perras (11-11-2, 2 SO, 2.90), Kyle Stanton (6-12-2, 1 SO, 3.35).

Bucks - Kevin Reiter (8-5-1, 0 SO, 2.51), Eric Marvin (15-5-4, 1 SO, 2.63).



Central Hockey League Stories from February 16, 2007


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