Power Plays Explode in Odessa's 6-5 Loss to Rapid City
January 28, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Odessa Jackalopes News Release
ODESSA, TX - Seven combined power play goals were scored on Saturday night, but Les Reaney's even-strength tally with 7:26 remaining in the game was enough to hold up for the Rapid City Rush in their 6-5 win over the Odessa Jackalopes on Friday night at the Ector County Coliseum.
Reaney finished with two goals and four points on the night. His teammate, Konrad Reeder, and Odessa's Mike Lesperance also scored a pair of goals each.
Phil Plante gave the Jackalopes (19-6-5) a 5-4 lead with a power play goal just 35 seconds into the third period, before Reeder tied it 8:36 in, and Reaney netted the game-winner on a scrum in front of the net. The final goal gave the Rush their only lead in the hockey game.
Danny Battochio provided the goaltending needed for Rapid City (22-17-4) to mount the comeback win, as the second-year pro came on in relief of starter Tim Boron, and stopped 18 of 19 shots in over 25 minutes of action. The Rush erased a pair of two-goal deficits before ultimately pulling ahead for the one-goal victory.
Alex Dunn and Dominic Leveille each tallied power play goals midway through the first period to open the game's scoring and give Odessa the lead, but Vladamir Hartinger put the Rush on the board with less than three minutes to play.
The two teams traded goals again in period two as Lesperance scored his first 2:50 into the middle frame. Then Rapid City answered back with a power play strike from Scott Wray at 4:39, and Reeder's first of the game almost five minutes later. Lesperance scored again to pull the Jacks ahead 4-3, but Reaney's first goal of the night with 2:40 to play made it a tie game after forty minutes of action.
The game spoiled a bit of a homecoming for Odessa forward Jean Bourbeau, who made his season debut for the Jackalopes after spending the first three months of the season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, appearing in 25 games. The Jackalopes were also without the services of the Central Hockey League's third-leading scorer, Todd Robinson - who was serving a one-game suspension.
Rapid City finished the game 4-for-7 on the power play while Odessa went 3-for-7. Lesperance, Plante, and Dominic Leveille all finished with three points on the night for the Jackalopes.
Michel Robinson made 33 saves for the Jackalopes and took the loss.
The two teams meet again on Saturday to close their weekend set. Game time is set for 7:05 PM CST and the action can be heard on Classic Rock 102.1 FM.
The Odessa Jackalopes are the Central Hockey League affiliate for the NHL's New York Islanders and the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The team is currently in the middle of its 14th season. Season tickets, mini-plans, and single game tickets are available by calling (432) 552-7825 or visiting jackalopes.org.
Follow the Jackalopes all year long on Facebook and Twitter -- Twitter.com/ODEJackalopes.
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