Smith's Late Goal Leads Bucks
December 20, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release
LAREDO, TX- The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League beat the Corpus Christi Ice Rays 4-3 Saturday night at the Laredo Entertainment Center. With the win the Bucks improve to 18-6-1 (37pts) and keep their lead in the Southeast Division at four points over Texas. Laredo trail's Odessa by three points (40 to 37) for the Southern Conference's best record.
Darryl Smith scored the game-winning goal for the Bucks off of a rebound with 16.8 seconds left in the third period. Smith picked up a rebound at the left circle and sent a snap shot past Dustin Traylen. The goal was Smith's 19th of the season.
The Bucks are 8-2-1 in one-goal games this season.
Bobby Russell scored a goal and handed out two assists to lead the Bucks, while Ryan Gibb set aside 21 of 24 Ice Rays shots to improve to 7-1-1 in the Bucks net this season.
The Ice Rays jumped out in front of the Bucks 4:23 into the first period, as Ryan Bennett snuck past the Bucks defense and whipped a shot from the slot past Ryan Gibb. The strike was Bennett's team-leading 16th of the season.
Laredo (13-3 at home) would come right back and strike for two straight goals to take a 2-1 lead.
Steve Weidlich tied the game at 1-1, when he sent a slap shot from the right point past Dustin Traylen at the 12:08 mark of the first. The goal was Weidlich's third of the year.
The Bucks took a 2-1 lead with 5:38 left in the opening period, when Ryan Salvis took a long rebound and stuffed it home past Traylen from the left circle. Igor Agarunov (5) and Bobby Russell (13) picked up assists on Salvis' fifth goal of the campaign.
Laredo outshot Corpus 11-5 in the first 20 minutes.
Corpus Christi (10-11-3) would tie the game at 2-2 when Adam Powell sent the puck in from the left circle past Gibb. The goal was Powell's eigth of the year.
The Bucks re-took the lead when they struck on the power-play with 4:05 left in the second. Russell sent a shot from the right corner that bounced off of Traylen's pads and into the back of the net. The goal was Russell's fifthof the year, with Alex Goupil and Jason Dixon each picking up their 15th assist.
Laredo outshot Corpus in the second 13-11.
The Bucks are 10-1 this season when leading after the second period.
The Ice Rays tied the game at 3-3 just 3:24 into the third period, when Chris Richards poked a shot past Gibb and into the back of the net.
The Bucks start a four-game road trip Monday night in Rio Grande Valley, before heading west to take on the Colorado Eagles and the Rocky Mountain Rage next weekend.
The Bucks will return home to host their 7th annual New Year's Eve Bash on December 31st when they host the Killer Bees. After the game the Bucks will hold the fireworks celebration inside the LEC for the first time ever! You can get four tickets for $40, by calling 718-BUCK (2825).
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Central Hockey League Stories from December 20, 2008
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