Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Looked like a goal to me (Click to enlarge photo)

Americans steal a win at NYTEX

Brahmas gain point, lose in 4-3 shoot out


There was nothing pretty about this game, but in the end, the Texas Brahmas earned a point in the standings after losing 4-3 in a shoot out to the Allen Americans last night at the NYTEX Sports Centre. Thanks to Corpus Christi’s 4-1 spanking of the Laredo Bucks at the LEC, the Brahmas are now two points ahead of Roscoe’s boys in the war for third place in the South.

With the loss, the Brahmas record goes to 31-22-6 with 68 points.

The Wednesday night crowd filtered in slowly and there was a pretty good turn out for a week night. There was even a small group of Allen fans in attendance for the final regular season meeting between the two teams.

Bodies were flying as the first period got underway but no penalties were called as the rivals were allowed to play.

Midway through the first period, Tyler Skworchinski apparently scored the first goal of the game when he skated the puck to the front of the crease and then sticked it up and over David McKee’s left leg pad, but it was waived off and play continued, much to the chagrin of the goal judge who was waving his arms trying to get referee Ryan Hersey’s attention (Dwight Mullins complained that the goal judge was celebrating like a fan and the young man was removed from his post after the first period).

Apparently, everyone saw the puck cross the goal line except the on-ice officials. Walt Tenery got a great shot of the puck over the line; I was only able to get this one (which is inconclusive) which shows it on its way over David McKee’s leg pad. Afterwards, the puck rolled out of the crease and was sent back into play by an American (either Nino Musitelli or Erik Adams).

The black helicopters are of course circling when it comes to the officiating in this game. Hersey (who dat?) Hersey’s whistle was invisible for the first two periods and only nine minors were called in the entire contest. As someone pointed out on Rajan’s blog today, there were an amazingly low number of penalties last night across the board (an average of 6.75 minors in four games with no majors or misconducts). Fishy – you bet!

Shortly thereafter, Americans rookie Tobias Whelan sent a shot past Brett Jaeger to give Allen the 1-0 lead at the 10:50 mark. Christian Gaudet and Erik Adams were credited with the assist. Whelan’s goal had the distinction of being the first time that the Americans had ever scored at NYTEX in the first period.

There was no further scoring in the first and after 20 minutes, the Americans had been out shot 10-8, but carried the 1-0 lead into the intermission.

The Brahmas came out strong in the second period and tied the game at the 2:22 mark when Scott Thauwald caught McKee out of position and blasted the puck into the net with the assists coming from Lee Jubinville and Nathan Perrott.

The Americans fired back when Jarrett Lukin redirected Tyler Wooddisse’s shot from the point to regain the Americans’ one-goal advantage with 5:37 remaining in the period. Colton Yellow Horn was also credited with the assist.

Allen out shot the Brahmas 17-13 in the middle frame and had a 25-23 advantage after 40 minutes. For the second period in a row, they skated off the ice with the lead, now 2-1.

A High Sticking call on Tyler Wooddisse put the Brahmas on an early man-advantage to open the third period. Kevin Seibel was able to score on a screened McKee at the 1:39 mark with a little help from James Hiebert and Luke Sellars.

Later in the period, with Lee Jubinville in the box for Board Checking, Tyler Shelast tipped blue liner Ryan Fairbarn’s shot into the cage to give Allen a 3-2 lead. Justin Bowers was also in on the play.

The Brahmas responded roughly two minutes later with a beautiful unassisted wraparound goal from Matt Pierce to tie the game 3-3 at the 15:38 mark.

The Brahmas had the offensive hustle going for them in the third frame and out shot the Americans 16-7 but was unable to wrap this one up with the remaining 4:22 and the game was forced into overtime.

The teams continued to put the heat on the goalies, but neither faltered in the extra five-minute period with two shots ladled apiece.

Allen headed into the shootout winning only one out of three contests that were forced past overtime against the Brahmas. Justin Bowers and Colton Yellow Horn were able to score on Jaeger, while McKee shut down everyone but Jason Deitsch. After one round, the Americans took two points and improved their record to 39-15-5.

Brett Jaeger made 31 saves on 34 shots faced and takes the loss. His record goes to 19-13-2-2. David McKee made 38 saves on 41 shots and earned the win. His record goes to 2-1-0.

The Brahmas went one for five on the power play. Allen went one for two. The Brahmas were assessed six minutes on three infractions. The Americans received 12 minutes on six infractions.

The 3rd Star of the game went to Scott Thauwald, who had a goal. The 2nd Star was awarded to Matt Pierce, who had a goal and the 1st Star went to Colton Yellow Horn, who had a goal and an assist, including the game winner in the shoot out.

You can view the box score here and the Game Live broadcast here

You can view my photos from the game here

The Brahmas travel to Southaven, Mississippi for a game against the RiverKings on Friday night. You can watch it on CHL-TV or catch the updates on Pointstreak.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith

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