Tornado edged by Amarillo in OT, 5-4

Published on February 10, 2012 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Texas Tornado News Release


The Texas Tornado were defeated by the Amarillo Bulls 5-4 in overtime on Friday night, with Matt Johnson's 15th goal of the season coming with just 26 seconds left to play in the extra period. Hunter Leisner made 22 saves in the loss, while Jack Prince notched his 32nd goal of the season, tied for the most in the NAHL.

Texas got on the board early with a goal coming just 1:21 into the game by Jake Strzalkowski. Jordan Lovick had the puck at the left wing and put a centering pass toward goal. There was no Tornado player waiting there, so the puck ricocheted off the right-wing half boards back to the faceoff circle. Strzalkowski pinched in and blasted a one-timer past the glove of Bulls goaltender Gregg Gruehl and in for the opening goal of the game.

Amarillo evened up the score midway through the period on a goal from Bulls captain Joe Kozlak. Leisner made a save on the initial shot by John Rey, but the puck remained loose just outside the crease. As he was falling down, Kozlak got his stick on the puck and poked it in to tie the game.

Before the first period came to a close, Amarillo picked up another goal, this one scored by Greg Gibson. Rey had control of the puck for Amarillo at center point, before taking a wrist shot toward goal. Rey's shot was deflected by Gibson, who redirected the puck enough to beat Leisner and make it a 2-1 Bulls lead.

The Tornado drew even at 8:23 of the second period on Mitch McPherson's third goal of the season. Texas came into the zone on a 2-on-1 rush with both McPherson and newcomer Drew Mayer. Mayer stickhandled into the zone and then passed it across to McPherson, who went forehand-to-backhand to beat Greuhl and tie the score.

Later in the second, Prince scored in the power-play and give the Tornado their first lead of the game. Michael Hoy took a shot that was blocked by traffic in front, but the puck fell right to Prince's stick blade, who wheeled and fired the puck past Greuhl and give the Tornado a 3-2 lead.

It was a back-and-forth third period, one in which the opening goal was scored by Joe Kozlak just 44 seconds into play. Kozlak took the pick from behind the goal line and, in similar fashion to a goal scored by Prince last week, banked it off Leisner's pad and in to tie the score.

Just over four minutes later, Nick Neville wandered from his defensive position to score his fifth goal of the season. Neville skated into the faceoff circle, faked a shot to get past one defender, then took a wrist shot that got blocked. The puck ricocheted back to him, however, and Neville was able to slip a wrist shot past Gruehl for the goal.

Amarillo answered late in the third, though, with less than four minutes remaining in regulation. On the heels of a Bulls power-play, Mychal Monteith was whistled for tripping, giving Amarillo another man-advantage. TJ Sarcona had the puck at the middle of the blue line and passed it to his right, where Brandon Lubin was waiting with a one-timer that beat Leisner and forced overtime.

It looked as if the game was destined for a shootout, but with under 30 seconds to go, a slap pass by Karl Beckman found Johnson waiting at the doorstep to score the game-winning goal.

The Tornado will host Amarillo for a second straight night on Saturday, when the two teams reconvene at Dr Pepper Arena for a 7:30 p.m. opening faceoff.



North American Hockey League Stories from February 10, 2012


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