Defenseman Nathan Saunders celebrates after scoring the first goal of the game

How about them Brahmas!

Texas takes conference lead, defeats the Colorado Eagles 4-1

The Texas Brahmas scored three third period goals to win their ninth consecutive home game (tying the league record) after a decisive 4-1 victory over the Colorado Eagles. The Brahmas improved to 31-10-4 on the season and 18-3-1 at the NYTEX Sports Centre.

The win, along with Odessa's loss in Mississippi, made the Brahmas the top team in the Southern Conference, and handed the Eagles their first back-to-back losses of the season.

“The goals came on mistakes tonight, costly mistakes at the wrong time,” Eagles coach Kevin McLelland told the Loveland Reporter-Herald. “There were some real blunders out there tonight.”

At 66 points, the Brahmas are now only four points behind the Eagles for the best record in the league.

"I give credit to our defense; they are forcing a lot of shots outside," Dan Wildfong told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "You can ask Jaegs and he’d give all the credit to the defense."

In a fast-flowing first period, the Brahmas took a 1-0 lead at the 13:38 mark on their third of four opening period power play chances. Just 30 seconds after after Brett Jaeger stopped a shorthanded chance by the Eagles, Travis Banga circled below the Colorado net and found Nathan Saunders in the right circle for a power-play blast past Andrew Penner. Scott Sheppard was also credited with the assist on Saunders' second goal of the season.

The Eagles outshot the Brahmas 11-8 in the period but Brett Jaeger couldn't be solved and the Brahmas held the lead going into the break.

There was no scoring in the second period. The Brahmas owned momentum for the first portion of the period. Through nine minutes of play, Texas had an 8-1 advantage of shots, but the Eagles would go on to post a 14-1 margin over the next 11 minutes (for a 15-9 edge in the period). Helping the Eagles to that shot advantage were four power play chances, but their struggling unit continued to go goal-less, dropping their conversion rate to under 10 percent over the past nine games and 40 minutes.

Eagles winger Fraser Filipic was ejected from the game at the 8:21 mark. After he was assessed a minor for unsportsmanlike conduct, Filipic had some words for the officials who then ejected him, adding an Abuse of Officials Misconduct (Rule 40) and an Abuse of Officials Game Misconduct (Rule 40).

Defenseman Jay Birnie, who took Filipic's place on the line, got the Eagles' only goal of the game 2:43 into the third when he wrapped the puck past Jaeger from in front for his first goal of the season (not including the All-Star Game). Adam Hogg and Steve Haddon were credited with the assist.

The Brahmas answered just 24 seconds later to take back the lead when Matt Burto scored after being left alone in front of Penner at the 3:07 mark. It was Burto's first goal of the season. Kevin McLeod and Pete Rouleau were in on the assist.

"When he scored our whole bench jumped up," Wildfong said. "They know how hard he works."

At the 14:27 mark, Matt Quinn sent a puck toward the Colorado cage from the left circle and Greg McConnell deflected it past Penner from the back door to make it 3-1. Pete Rouleau was in on the assist once again.

Jason Deitsch closed out the scoring with another quick strike 69 second later at the 15:36 mark with the assist from Travis Banga.

Even though the Eagles out shot the Brahmas 16-8 in the final period and 42-25 in the game, the Brahmas prevailed.

Brett Jaeger stopped 41 of 42 shots to earn the win. His record improves to 22-5-4-2 and he takes over the number two spot in the league in save percentage at .927. He also moves up to the number five spot in three star leaders with 40 star points.

The Eagles' Andrew Penner was handed his first regulation loss since November 1, 2008.

The Brahmas were assessed 10 minutes on five minor infractions. The Eagles were assessed 34 minutes on 9 infractions (including 24 minutes given to Fraser Filipic).

Colorado failed to score on five powerplay opportunities and are now 0-for-15 on the man-advantage dating to their last home game. They even failed to capitalize on an early second period five-on-three opportunity. The Brahmas went one for six on the powerplay.

You can view the box score here

You can view photos from the game here

The Brahmas play the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs at CenturyTel Center tomorrow night in their first match up since December 23rd. The game begins at 7:05pm and can be seen on Nifty-TV.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith