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Texas Moves Closer To Playoff Berth

February 4, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


Sweeping its three-game series against Florida, Texas extended its winning streak to seven games and improved to 35-4-7 to remain atop the ECHL standings with 77 points.

The Wildcatters need only four points, either from wins or overtime/shootout losses or losses by Pensacola, to become the first team to clinch a berth in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Texas plays at Columbia on Friday and at South Carolina on Saturday while Pensacola hosts Columbia on Monday and Tuesday and plays at Charlotte on Saturday and Sunday. The Louisiana IceGators clinched their postseason berth after 56 games on Feb. 24, 2002.

Texas reached 70 points in 43 games (32-4-7), which is one game shy of the league record set by Louisiana (34-5-3) in 2001-02 and tied by Alaska (34-6-3) in 2005-06. The IceGators reached 80 points in a record 48 games (39-6-3) in 2001-02 while Alaska (39-7-3) did it in 49 games in 2005-06.

Louisiana set ECHL records in 2001-02 for wins (56), home wins (30), road wins (26), points (116), points percentage (.806) and fewest home losses (2). Louisiana had a 14-game winning streak from Nov. 23-Dec. 22 tying the league mark set by Knoxville from Dec. 28, 1993-Jan. 29, 1994.

Alaska in 2005-06 tied the record for home wins (30) while finishing with the second-most points (113) and second-highest points percentage (.785). The Aces and Las Vegas each had 53 wins tying the record for second-most wins set by Florida in 1999-2000.

Returning after missing the 2005-06 season in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Wildcatters made their first postseason appearance since moving to Beaumont in 2003-04 and set team records with 41 wins, 21 home wins and 20 road wins while improving 46 points from 2004-05 which is the fifth-largest single-season point improvement in the 19-year history of the ECHL.



Cincinnati, Elmira continue North Division Battle



Extending its winning streak to six games and improving to 15-2-1 in its last 18 games, Cincinnati improved to 31-8-3 and 65 points. The Cyclones are one point ahead of Elmira, which is 6-1-1 in its last eight games and 30-10-4 overall, in the North Division.

Cincinnati, which has won its last four home games to improve to 15-3-3 at U.S. Bank Arena, hosts Mississippi on Wednesday and Saturday and Trenton on Friday while Elmira plays at Johnstown on Friday and at Reading on Saturday. The Royals are 6-2-0 in their last eight games and in third place with 53 points.

During the Cyclones current winning streak, Cedrick Desjardins is 3-0-0 with a shutout and a goals-against average of 1.00 while Dov-Grumet Morris is 3-0-0 with a shootout win and a goals-against average of 1.62.

Joel Martin of Elmira, who is 4-0-1 with a goals-against average of 2.35 in his last five starts, is 23-6-3 and leads the ECHL with 23 wins.

Dayton, which is in fourth place with 46 points (19-17-4), hosts Mississippi on Friday and Sunday and Trenton (18-23-4) on Saturday.



Fresno Picking Up Ground In National Conference



Going 4-0-1 in their last five games and 11-2-2 over the last 15 games, Fresno improved to 56 points (25-11-6) to move within nine points of Las Vegas (29-9-7) which leads both the Pacific Division and the National Conference.

The Falcons, who are 4-0-2 against the Wranglers, will host Utah (22-20-4) on Tuesday and Friday and Stockton (19-22-3) on Saturday while Las Vegas, which is 5-1-0 in its last six games, will travel to Phoenix on Tuesday and Thursday.

Picking up six of a possible eight points this past week, Idaho improved to 25-14-7 and narrowed the gap with West Division leader Victoria (27-11-5) to two points. The Steelheads, who are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and 9-3-0 in their last 12 road games, will play at Alaska on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Trailing Las Vegas by six points in the conference standings, Victoria returns to the ice for the first time since Jan. 27 when it plays at Bakersfield on Tuesday. The Salmon Kings, who are 5-1-1 in their last seven games, visit Stockton on Thursday before returning to Bakersfield on Friday.

Going 2-1-0 against Alaska last week, Utah moved past the Aces into third place in the West Division with 48 points (22-20-4). The Grizzlies head to California where they will play at Fresno on Tuesday and Friday, at Stockton on Wednesday and at Bakersfield on Saturday.



Charlotte Moves Up In The South Division



Going 3-1-0 on its trip through the North Division and 6-3-0 in its last nine games, Charlotte has improved to 20-18-4 and is tied for sixth place in the South Division with Columbia (17-18-10), six points behind fifth-place Augusta (23-19-4).

The Checkers will visit South Carolina on Tuesday before hosting the Stingrays on Thursday and Pensacola on Saturday and Sunday. Columbia plays at Pensacola on Tuesday and at Gwinnett on Sunday while hosting Texas on Friday.

South Carolina is 7-3-0 in its last 10 games and in second place in the division with 58 points (28-15-2), two points ahead of Gwinnett (26-13-4) and six points in front of Florida (24-18-4). In addition to their home and home with Charlotte on Tuesday and Thursday, the Stingrays will host division leader Texas on Saturday and Wheeling on Sunday. Gwinnett, which is 4-2-0 in its last six games, will host Wheeling on Friday and Saturday and Columbia on Sunday while Florida returns home to host Augusta on Friday and Saturday.

Mississippi, which is on a three-game winning streak and is 10-5-0 in the last 15 games, is in seventh place with 43 points (20-24-3), one point behind Charlotte and Columbia. The Sea Wolves will travel to Cincinnati on Wednesday and Saturday and will visit Dayton on Friday and Sunday.

Texas continues to lead the South Division and the ECHL with 77 points (35-4-7).

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