Odessa Dethrones Kings 6-3

Published on December 6, 2005 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release


Odessa, TX - The Odessa Jackalopes kept traffic in front of the net all night long Tuesday night at the Ector County Coliseum and Don Margettie's pair of goals led the Jackalopes to a 6-3 win over the Lubbock Cotton Kings to give Odessa sole possession of first place in the Southwest Division.

The Kings were out-shot in the opening period 16-9, but came away with a 1-0 lead through the first period. Stacey Bauman tallied his third goal of the season on a lofty wrist shot from the right-point that found its way into the back of the net over the shoulder of Jackalopes goaltender Mike Gorman. The goal was scored 2:47 into the game and gave the Kings their 12th "first goal" of the season, which ranks tied for second in the Central Hockey League.

The Jackalopes exploded in the second period with four goals during the 20-minute span. The first two were registered 5:27 apart, Paul Davies and Don Margettie contributed a pair of goals beginning 6:32 into the period. The Kings lone goal of the period tied the contest at 2-2 with a goal by Mike Brolsma, who tipped a loose puck past goaltender Mike Gorman after Ryan Moren collided with the Jackalopes goaltender as 5:47 remained in the period. The Jacks' did not wait long to regain the lead as 1:16 later, Margettie grabbed his second goal of the game to give the Jackalopes a 3-2 lead. Lubbock goaltender Lance Leslie covered the puck in the final minute, but it was poked free and forced into the back of the net by John Kozoriz with 32-seconds remaining in the frame to give the Jackalopes a 4-2 advantage through two periods.

Mike Brolsma fired a wrist shot from the left side past Mike Gorman 3:24 into the third period to cut the Odessa lead to 4-3, but the Jackalopes pulled away. The Jackalopes did not tally a power play goal in their first 34 power play opportunities against the Kings in the season series, but Dominic Leveille ended the streak with a power play goal on the Jacks' 35th power play opportunity of the season against the Kings, redirecting a Scott Hillman slap shot 5:49 into the period. Odessa would end up scoring on their very next power play opportunity to go 2 for 9 in the department for the game with a power play goal by Matt Cressman, who like Leveille, redirected a Hillman slap shot past Leslie.

Odessa out-shot the Kings 39-29, with Leslie stopping 33 shots. The six goals allowed by Leslie tied as the most allowed by Leslie as a member of the Kings (fourth time), and his record dropped to 6-6-0 on the season. Gorman grabbed his 98th win of his Odessa career in the pipes by stopping 26 of the Kings 29 shots on goal to improve to 10-4-1. The loss places the Cotton Kings with a two-game winless streak overall and on the road, placing their record at 10-8-1. Lubbock will finally return home to the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum Friday to open a home-and-home series with the Southern Conference and Southeast Division leading Laredo Bucks.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2005


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