Odessa Wins With "Thin" 2-1 Margin over Lubbock
Published on December 21, 2005 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release
Odessa, Tx - Sebastien Thinel registered a pair of second period goals and it was enough to hold off a Lubbock Cotton Kings comeback attempt in the third period, as the Odessa Jackalopes extended their Southwest Division lead to six standing-points with a 2-1 win Wednesday night at the Ector County Coliseum. The win extended the Jackalopes home winning streak to eight games and dropped the Cotton Kings record to 12-12-1.
The Cotton Kings received key defensive plays in the first period, but couldn't get anything going offensively in the frame. Odessa, who out-shot the Kings 14-8 in the period, could not take advantage of any of their four power play opportunities, including a five-on-three advantage for 1:32. Lubbock had two power play opportunities of their own in the opening period, but the league's top ranked penalty kill unit held the Kings without a shot on goal while on the advantage.
Lubbock increased their chances in the second period, out-shooting the Jackalopes 20-9, but Jackalopes goaltender Mike Gorman kept the Kings off the board. Odessa leads the CHL in second period goals and they increased on that statistic with a pair of goals in the period by Sebastien Thinel. His first was scored as the Kings had just killed off a Jacks' power play opportunity, 45-seconds into the period. Thinel's second came 2:51 later on a redirection of Scott Hillman's shot from the point. The assist by Hillman was his 280th point as a Jackalope to mark a Jackalopes all-time high.
Trailing 2-0 entering the third period, Kings defenseman Stacey Bauman held up a face-off draw by returning to the bench for a new stick and the stick exchange paid off. Mike Brolsma won the face-off draw to Bauman and he blasted a shot over Gorman's shoulder to cut the Kings deficit to 2-1 with 14:57 remaining. Lubbock later received a five-on-three power play advantage for 1:33, but the closest they would get to scoring would be a shot by Emery Olauson from the left side of the crease that he ended up sending out of play while trying to place in the top shelf as Gorman was down.
Each goaltender was impressive, but it was a milestone night for Mike Gorman. Gorman stopped 37 of 38 shots to earn the win and it was his 100th as a member of the Jacks. Cotton Kings goaltender Brett Koscielny took the hard-luck loss, keeping the Kings in the contest by stopping 35 of 37 shots.
Each team's penalty kill was also highlighted, as Lubbock was 9 for 9 on the penalty kill and Odessa was 7 for 7.
The two clubs will play for a third consecutive game Friday night in Lubbock. It will be the final game before the Christmas break for the Cotton Kings, who will then return to the ice on December 28th in Austin.
Central Hockey League Stories from December 21, 2005
- Beaudry helps Bats hold off Brahmas - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Eagles crush Oilers, 9-3 - Colorado Eagles
- Odessa Wins With "Thin" 2-1 Margin over Lubbock - Lubbock Cotton Kings
- RiverKings weekly news and notes - Mississippi RiverKings
- Wildcats Appreciation Night This Friday - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Cotton Kings Road Game Preview - Lubbock Cotton Kings
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
