The Insider Preview - Texas Brahmas vs. Colorado Eagles

Conference leaders meet for first time since 2008 Northern Conference Finals

The Texas Brahmas (30-10-4, 64 points) host the Colorado Eagles (34-7-2, 70 points) on Friday night at the NYTEX Sports Centre. It is the only game scheduled between the two teams during the regular season.

The Brahmas are 17-3-1 at home and have won a franchise record eight consecutive games at home. The Eagles are 16-4-0 on the road and are coming off a 2-1 road loss against the Tulsa Oilers. Prior to that, they have won four straight on the road.

This will be the first meeting between the two teams since game seven of the Northern Conference Finals, played at the Budweiser Events Center on April 23, 2008. The Eagles won 3-2 and advanced to the Ray Miron President's Cup Championship where they were swept in four games by the Arizona Sundogs.

The two teams played twice in the 2007-08 regular season. The Eagles won 5-3 at home on November 10th and the Brahmas won 6-4 at NYTEX on February 2nd.

The Eagles have been leading the Norther Conference all season. The Brahmas are tied with the Odessa Jackalopes for the lead of the Southern Conference. Both teams play on Friday.

The Eagles top three scorers are Kevin Ulanski (LW) with 59 points (19 G, 40 A), Greg Pankewicz (RW) with 58 points (28 G, 30 A) and Riley Nelson (C) with 58 points (20 G, 38 A).

On Special teams, the Eagles are ranked second in the league overall on the powerplay at 21.9% and seventh on the road at 17.9%. On the penalty kill, Colorado is ranked ninth in the league overall at 83.5% and third on the road at 88.5%.

The top three scorers for the Brahmas are Scott Sheppard (F) with 52 points (26 G, 26 A), Grant Jacobsen (F) with 46 points (18 G, 29 A) and Jordan Cameron (F) with 43 points (16 G, 27 A).

Eagle Scott Polaski (4 G, 3 A) and Brahma Scott Sheppard (7 G, 2 A) were the leading scorers for their clubs during last year’s seven-game playoff series.

On special teams, the Brahmas are ranked 3rd in the league overall on the powerplay at 21.1% and 5th at home at 20.7%. On the penalty kill, they are ranked 12th in the league overall at 81.2% and 2nd at home at 88.1%.

Brett Jaeger (21-5-4-2) is expected in the net for the Brahmas. Andrew Penner (23-1-2) will start for the Eagles.

The Brahmas should be fully staffed. The Eagles will be without forward Brett Hammond who is on the injured reserve.

The game begins at 7:05pm and can be seen on Nifty-TV or you can listen on Internet radio here

Photo Credit: Steve Stoner/Loveland Reporter Herald