Jason Deitsch celebrates seconds after scoring the game winning goal Jason Deitsch scores game winner 29 seconds into overtime
The Texas Brahmas provided another thrilling victory tonight in front of a sold out crowd at the NYTEX Sports Centre with a 3-2 overtime win against the Mississippi RiverKings.
With the win, the Brahmas improved to 29-10-4 with 62 points and remain 10 points ahead of the Laredo Bucks in the Southeast Division (Laredo also won, defeating the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 3-2). The Brahmas have now won 16 of their last 19 games.
David Simoes decides to take on Nathan Saunders four seconds into the game...see why it wasn't a good idea in the photo section RiverKings defenseman David Simoes and Brahmas enforcer Nathan Saunders had words for each other during the pre-game warm-ups. Whatever was said translated to dropping the gloves four seconds into the game to set the tone for the battle that was to come. Saunders, at 6' 3" and 228 pounds easily took Simoes, wrapping his sweater over his head and laying down the law of NYTEX, if you mess with the bull, you'll get the horns. Both earned five-minute majors for their effort and the sold out crowd loved it.
After Craig Minard was called for hooking at the 4:00 mark, the RiverKings went to work, with Derek Landemesser getting the first goal on the powerplay, assisted by Stephen Margeson, at the 4:44 mark to establish the 1-0 lead.
The Brahmas scored the equalizer at the 16:31 mark, when Matt Quinn took possession of a loose puck and forced it past RiverKings’ goaltender Kevin Beech for his eighth goal of the year. Pete Rouleau was credited with the assist.
The period ended at 1-1. The RiverKings out shot the Brahmas an astounding 18-3 in the period giving an early testament to the night Brett Jaeger would have.
The RiverKings got on the board first again in the second period when Jeff Nelson deflected a pass from Derek Landmesser into the net. Matt Pierce was also in on the assist at the 5:59 mark for the 2-1 lead.
Travis Banga gets the tying goal on the powerplay
It was former RiverKing Travis Banga who tied the game during some four-on-four play after Matt Quinn and David Simoes were sent to the penalty box for getting into a skirmish behind the net. Banga was set up by Craig Minard and Justin Kinnunen and sent the puck flying past Beech at the 16:43 mark. The middle period ended at 2-2 with the RiverKings again dominating the shot count at 15-9.
With a little over three minutes left in the third period, the RiverKings drove to the net and had a centering pass deflect in off a skate giving them what looked like it might be the game-winning goal. As the Mississippi players celebrated and the crowd was hushed, Brett Jaeger was making the kicking motion with his pad, trying to indicate that the puck was kicked in. Referee Ryan Hersey had already allowed the goal but after conferring with the linesman, he overturned his decision, and ruled that it was kicked in. No doubt a controversial call, but nonetheless, one that let the air back into the room and opened the door for another chance for the Brahmas to find a way to win.
The period ended on a Brahmas powerplay after Matt Summers received the only penalty of the period for high-sticking with 18 seconds left. For the third period in a row, the RiverKings outshot the Brahmas, this time 13-6.
It didn't take long, 22 seconds to be exact, before Jason Deitsch was set up by Jordan Cameron and Scott Sheppard and coming in from Beech's left, found the back of the net to give the Brahmas a 3-2 victory.
The RiverKings outshot the Brahmas 46-19 but Brett Jaeger had a stellar performance, stopping 44 for his 21st win of the season. His record now stands at 21-5-4-2.
The Brahmas were assessed 13 minutes on five penalties. The RiverKings were assessed 35 minutes on eight penalties. The Brahmas went two for four on the powerplay; Mississippi went one for three.
The third star went to Mississippi's Derek Landmesser who had a goal and an assist on the night. The second star went to Jason Deitsch for his game-winning goal. The first star went to Brett Jaeger for his performance in the net.
You can view my photos from the game here
The Brahmas will host the Tulsa Oilers tonight at the NYTEX Sports Centre. The opening face off is at 7:05pm. Be there or risk missing another example of hometown hockey at its finest!
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