Brahmas battle back, clinch playoff berth with 5-4 win

Ihnacak nets game-winner in shootout

The Texas Brahmas, down 3-1 in the first period, battled their way back to a 5-4 shootout win over the visiting Laredo Bucks tonight in front of a sold out crowd at the NYTEX Sports Centre. Brian Ihnacak netted the game-winning goal and Scott Reid stopped 20 of 21 shots faced and set aside four of five of the Bucks' shootout attempts in relief of Wayne Savage to earn his first win for the home team.

With their 17th home victory of the 2010-11 campaign, the Brahmas have clinched a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season.

Chad Woollard opened the scoring on a two-on-one break at the 5:15 mark and hit a milestone in the process with his 700th career point. Dylan Stanley and Nathan Saunders were in on the assist.

Undaunted, Laredo answered with three back-to-back goals, including two in less than a minute beginning at the 8:31 mark. Jeff Hazelwood stole a pass in the Brahmas end and found a wide open Brian Matte, who scored on Wayne Savage with a backhander from right in front of the net.

Neil Trimm picked off a Brahmas pass in the slot and sent the puck past Savage to make it a 2-1 contest at the 15:04 mark.

57 seconds later, the Bucks would go up 3-1 when defenseman B.J Crum scored his first goal of the season on a feed from Keegan Dansereau. Jarred Mohr was also credited with an assist.

The Bucks out shot the Brahmas 14-8 in the first 20 and had the crowd at NYTEX in a sullen mood heading into the first intermission.

A goal tending change to open the middle frame took place for the Brahmas as Scott Reid relieved Savage, who gave up three goals on 14 shots in the first 20 minutes.

An otherwise uneventful period changed when Nathan Saunders and Bucks forward Justin Styffe dropped the gloves behind Reid’s net at the 14:27 mark.

A last second (literally, at the 19:59 mark) shot by Jason Deitsch was redirected by Mick Lawrence past Pier Pelletier to make it a 3-2 contest going into the second intermission. Greg Hogeboom was also credited with an assist.

Laredo out shot Texas 13-10 in the second period.

Mick Lawrence tallied the equalizer, his second of the night, on an odd-man rush at the 1:45 mark of the third period with a little help from Dylan Stanley and Brian Ihnacak.

Just 12 seconds later, Brian Matte put the Bucks up 4-3 when he knocked in his second of the night right off the face-off, assisted by Darryl Smith and Davis Inman.

With the game on the line, Chad Woollard, aided by an extra attacker, sent the game into overtime with six seconds remaining in regulation with a rebound off a shot by Dylan Stanley.

The Brahmas out shot the Bucks 12-7 in the third period but were out shot in regulation, 34-30.

After the overtime period failed to produce a winner, the game went into a shootout. Keegan Dansereau scored first for the Bucks, but Reid was able to stop the next four Laredo Shooters. Dylan Stanley scored first for the Brahmas and Brian Ihnacak sent the game winner past Pelletier to secure the victory.

The Brahmas went 0 for 4 on the power play; the Bucks went 0 for 3. The Brahmas were assessed 18 minutes on six infractions; the Bucks received 17 minutes on seven infractions.

Referee: Tudor Floru
Linesmen: Kai Magnussen, T.J. Nua

Brian Ihnacak earned the 3rd Star of the game with a goal and an assist on the night. Mick Lawrence was awarded the 2nd Star with two consecutive goals and Chad Woollard took the 1st Star, also with two goals.

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

The Brahmas will visit the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs tomorrow afternoon for a 4:05 pm face off at the CenturyTel Center.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith