Odessa 3, El Paso 2 (Game 2)
March 23, 2002 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
El Paso Buzzards News Release
The Odessa Jackalopes broke a 2-2 second period tie with a goal from John Bossio at 1:07 of the third and evened their CHL playoff series with El Paso at one game apiece.
The Jacks took the early 1-0 lead on a two-man advantage, as Mike Sanderson lifted the puck top shelf past Levy from five feet out at 3:55.
But the Buzzards fought back in the first period to take the lead with two goals from their hard-working third line.
Defenseman Dory Tisdale lifted Derrell Upton's centering pass top shelf past Odessa goaltender Mike Gorman for the tie at 12:55, followed by Linna, who's shot from above left circle came through a screen and glanced off Gorman's blocker at 17:57.
Once again El Paso held the lead in Odessa after the first 20 minutes, but that would be all the offense the Buzzards could muster as the Jackalopes' trap took its toll.
El Paso's shots-per-period went from 11 in the first, to 10 in the second to just eight when trailing in the third.
Odessa scored two unanswered goals of their own for the win, as Matt Cressman walked in on Buzzards' netminder Jeff Levy on a delayed penalty to tie the game at 13:00.
That was followed early in the third by the game winner from Bossio. Skating low in the right circle, Bossio took advantage of a screen to send a seeing-eye shot five-hole.
Nonetheless, El Paso now has home-ice advantage after its 4-3 win Friday night. Game three and four of the best-of-five first round series are in the El Paso County Coliseum this Friday and Saturday. If necessary, the deciding game five is in Odessa, Tuesday, April 2nd.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2002
- Iggys Even Series With Convincing Win In Austin - San Antonio Iguanas
- Odessa 3, El Paso 2 (Game 2) - El Paso Buzzards
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