Tornado dropped by Bulls for second straight night
February 11, 2012 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Texas Tornado News Release
The Texas Tornado dropped its second straight game to the Amarillo Bulls on Saturday, losing by a score of 3-2. Gregg Greuhl was stellar in net for Amarillo and stopped 40 of 42 shots en route to the victory. Mitch McPherson and Jake Strzalkowski each scored for the second straight night and Hunter Leisner made his second straight start in net for the Tornado, but his 21 saves were not enough to keep the Tornado from falling to 28-13-7.
After a scoreless first period, it took more than half of the second period for the scoreless tie to be broken, but McPherson scored to give the Tornado a 1-0 lead. McPherson had control of the puck in the left-wing corner. He walked it out front and sent a backhand over Greuhl's glove and in for the opening goal of the game.
The Bulls scored three unanswered goals in the third period, however, to take control of the game. First, Greg Gibson scored for the second straight night to tie the score. Amarillo won a faceoff in the Tornado zone and set up behind the net, where Brooks Behling found Gibson waiting for the game-tying goal.
Later in the period, the Tornado found themselves on the power-play, though it was Amarillo who came through with the go-ahead goal. Brandon Lubin skated into the Tornado zone, wound up from the top of the circle, and blasted a slapshot past Leisner's glove and in to make it a 2-1 Amarillo lead.
Just 35 seconds later, the NAHL's leading goal-scorer capitalized on a Tornado mistake and extended their lead. After a Tornado giveaway, Amarillo broke into the zone on a 2-1. A pass across from Gibson connected with Behling in the right-wing circle, who scored and gave the Bulls a 3-1 advantage.
Texas drew within a goal just 29 seconds later, following a Tornado odd-man rush. The Tornado's checking line created a 3-on-2 into the Bulls zone, with T.J. Stuntz leading the rush. His shot was stopped, but Strzalkowski followed up on the rebound, putting it past Gruehl to make it a one-goal game. That was all either offense could muster, though, and Amarillo came away with the 3-2 victory.
The NAHL's Top Prospects Tournament will be held next weekend, with five Tornado players named to team rosters. Jack Prince, Jordan Greenberg, Justin Greenberg, Taylor Herndon, and Nick Neville will all be representing the Tornado in Troy, Mich. The Tornado return to the ice on February 24th against Amarillo at the Amarillo Civic Center
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