Shots From The Point For Monday, March 3rd

March 3, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Worth Brahmas News Release


There is little doubt that the Texas Brahmas are the hottest team in the CHL currently sitting with a five-game win streak and posting a 19-5-0 record in their last 24 games. With their hot play, the Brahmas have moved by Mississippi into the fifth and final spot in the Northern Conference playoff race. Texas is just one point behind Youngstown for the fourth spot with one game in hand.

On Sunday, the Brahmas won their fourth straight home game defeating Austin 6-5. The win capped off a 4-0 week for Texas that also included home wins versus Youngstown and Bossier-Shreveport and a road win at Laredo. This week, the Brahmas are home to Wichita on Friday and then have a home-and-home series with Oklahoma City on Saturday and Sunday.

The Brahmas became the first team this season to sweep the Oakley CHL Player/Goaltender of the Week on Monday with Jordan Cameron earning the player honors and David Cacciola earning the goaltender nod. Cameron scored two goals with six assists and Cacciola went 3-0 with a shutout and a .934 save percentage.

SUNDOGS AND JACKALOPES CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTHS; SCORPIONS NEXT?

The Odessa Jackalopes (30-17-7) and the Arizona Sundogs (30-18-5) each clinched a spot in the Ray Miron President's Cup playoffs on Saturday night. The Jacks did it on the ice with a 6-2 win against the Amarillo Gorillas. Arizona was fortunate enough to earn the berth while taking the night off. The two teams, along with the New Mexico Scorpions (29-20-5), are in a great race for the Southwest Division title with Odessa currently holding a two point lead over Arizona and a four point lead over New Mexico. The Sundogs play at Colorado tonight (Monday) and the Jacks play at New Mexico on Tuesday. New Mexico needs to earn just two points to clinch the fourth Southern Conference spot joining the Sundogs, Jackalopes and Laredo Bucks.

CHASE FOR THE FIFTH SPOT IN THE SOUTH

The Austin Ice Bats continue to hold on to the fifth and final Southern Conference playoff spot currently leading the Amarillo Gorillas by two points and the Corpus Christi Rayz by four points. Amarillo has one game in hand on both Corpus Christi and Austin. All three teams are struggling a bit lately with the Gorillas dropping seven straight games (0-4-3) the Rayz winning just twice in their last 10 games and Austin dropping back-to-back games over the weekend. Amarillo's schedule this week features home games versus New Mexico and Arizona and a road trip to Tulsa sandwiched in between. Austin is home to Oklahoma City on Friday and then play a home-and-home series with Rio Grande Valley on Saturday and Sunday. The Rayz are home for two games hosting the Mudbugs and the Jackalopes (two division leaders).

EAGLES AND RAGE IN A DEAD-HEAT FOR THE NORTHWEST CROWN

The Rocky Mountain Rage dropped back-to-back games this past week and has watched the Colorado Eagles catch them in the standings for the first time this season. The tie could be broken as soon as tonight when the Eagles host the Arizona Sundogs presenting an opportunity to jump past the Rage into sole possession of first place in the division for the first time this season. Colorado has been taking care of business on home ice where they have won 12 straight games. The team sparked when Chris Stewart returned behind the bench after beginning the season on the sidelines after having off-season back surgery. Since Stewart's return, the Eagles have gone 22-9-1. Both Rocky Mountain and Colorado have 10 games remaining in the regular season.

HOUNDS SWEEP PAST THUNDER

The Youngstown SteelHounds moved back into the fourth spot in the Northern Conference standings after their three-games-in-three-nights sweep of the Wichita Thunder at the Chevrolet Centre this past weekend. Youngstown was certainly challenged by the Thunder winning 4-3 on Friday, 6-3 on Saturday and 3-2 in a shootout on Sunday. Goaltender Andy Franck appeared to get back on track winning all three games allowing eight goals. The win on Friday for Franck ended a five-game losing streak. Veteran center Chris Richard's scored his 200th CHL goal on Friday night.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2008


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