Wildcatters Prep for Playoffs
April 8, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Texas Wildcatters News Release
The Texas Wildcatters enter the Kelly Cup Playoffs this week after going 0-2-0 against the Florida Everblades to close out the regular season and narrowly miss the Brabham Cup despite putting up 115 standings points-second only to 2001-02 Louisiana Ice Gators (116) in the ECHL record books. Suffering back-to-back regulation losses for just the second time in the regular season (1/13 v. SCA - 1/15 @ MIS), the Catters (52-9-4-7) lose the race for the ECHL's best-record to Cincinnati (55-12-1-4) by virtue of the Cyclones' higher number of victories.
The 2007-08 regular-season Catters did secure one position atop the record books: their paltry 9 regulation losses best the record of 11 set by the 1995-96 Richmond Renegades. With only 6 road losses, the Wildcatters join the same Renegades team for second-fewest all-time and their mere 3 losses at Ford Arena make them second only to the 2001-02 Ice Gators (2) for the fewest losses at home.
The playoffs offer a new, more valuable shot at history as the Wildcatters look to close their chapter in the ECHL annals with a Kelly Cup.
The American Conference South Division Quarterfinals pit the top-seeded Wildcatters versus the eighth-place Mississippi Sea Wolves. Games 1 and 2 are Wed., 4/9 and Thurs., 4/10 at Ford Arena in Beaumont. Game time both nights is 7:05.
In eleven meetings this season, the Wildcatters went 9-2-2 versus their I-10 rivals, though Mississippi joins Florida as the only teams to deal the Catters more than one regulation loss all season.
Kevin Baker has paced the Wildcatters offense against the Sea Wolves this season. The veteran forward has 8 goals and 5 assists in just 10 games while leading Texas with 52 shots taken. Moises Gutierrez, Brandon Benedict, and John McNabb all had 10 or more points in the season series.
McNabb, the veteran Captain, led the Wildcatters this season with 82 points while posting team highs in goals (32) and assists (50).
Anton Khudobin (20-1-1-3) was a perfect 7-0-0 with a 1.74 goals-against average and .946 save percentage versus Mississippi during the regular season. Kris Tebbs, Texas' regular starter during the duration of Khudobin's recall to AHL Houston, went 1-1-1 versus the Sea Wolves with a respectable 2.53 GAA and .908 save percentage.
Don't miss exciting playoff action at Ford Arena! Playoff packages and single-game tickets for the DQF round are now available at the Wildcatters Front Office, the Ford Park Box Office, and Ticketmaster. Join the Wildcatters as they begin the charge to the championship, call (409) 951-5500!
The Texas Wildcatters are the proud ECHL affiliate of NHL's Minnesota Wild and the Houston Aeros of the AHL.
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