Shorthanded Brahmas Outlast Oilers in Shootout

December 27, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Worth Brahmas News Release


TULSA, Oklahoma (December 27) - Sy Nutkevitch notched the game-winner in the sixth round of the shootout Thursday night, as a depleted Fort Worth Brahmas lineup outlasted the Tulsa Oilers on the road 5-4.

The Brahmas jumped out to an early 2-1 lead in the first period. Tomas Klempa buried a loose puck off of Jake Morley's wrister at 4:32 to start the scoring. After Ryan Menei scored to even the score at 1-1, Daniel Spivak notched his second goal in as many games as he recovered the rebound off of his own shot and flipped a wrister by Tulsa netminder Dan Bakala at the 17:43 mark.

Adam Hogg gave the Brahmas a 3-1 lead early in the second period as he streaked down the left side and snuck the puck past Bakala inside the near-side post. Bakala was replaced by back-up Shane Madolora at that point. For Hogg, it was his third goal in the last two games after scoring twice Saturday versus the Missouri Mavericks.

The Oilers bounced back with three unanswered scores, two of which came before the end of the second period and the third scored 5:25 into the third period. Ben Gordon cut the Brahmas deficit in half at 9:13 of the middle frame as he finished on the doorstep off of a centering feed from Menei. Mike Ullrich was awarded a penalty shot at 11:11 and converted to tie the score at three goals apiece. Just over five minutes into the third period, Michel Beausoleil fit the puck just between Fort Worth goaltender Kristofer Westblom's legs to give Tulsa its first lead of the game at 4-3.

With 6:31 remaining in regulation, John Snowden, the newest member of the Brahmas, fired a slapshot into the back of the net to even the score for the fourth time of the game and send the contest into overtime.

After a scoreless overtime period, Hogg and Brendon Hodge each converted on their shootout attempts before Nutkevitch faked out Madolora and slid the puck behind him to end the game after six rounds of the shootout.

Westblom stopped 29 of the 33 shots he faced, including four in the overtime period and four of six attempts in the shootout, to earn his seventh win of the season. Bakala allowed three goals on 14 shots in net for the Oilers before being replaced by Madolora early in the second period. Madolora stopped 17 of 18 shots the rest of the way.

Each team struggled on the powerplay. The Brahmas were 0-for-4 with the man advantage while the Oilers were 0-for-3.

For Forth Worth, Thursday night's win moved the team into sole possession of fourth place in the Central Hockey League. The victory also snapped a five-game losing streak on the road. The Brahmas' last win away from Fort Worth came in Tulsa on November 30.

The Brahmas (14-10-4) are back in action Friday, December 28 when the team hosts the cross-town rival Allen Americans at the NYTEX Sports Centre. The puck is set to drop at 7:30pm.

The Brahmas have reduced individual ticket prices from a season ago, as well as lowering the price of full-season, half-season and 11-game ticket packages for the 2012-2013 season. For more ticket information, please contact a Brahmas sales representative at 817-336-4423 or visit www.brahmas.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2012


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