 |
| Power
Play |
16.5%
- 12th |
| Penalty
Killing |
84.2%
- 7th |
| FORWARDS |
| SEBASTIEN
THINEL |
34-49-83
(0) |
| DOMINIC
LEVEILLE |
32-49-81
(+3) |
| NATHAN
WARD |
20-43-63
(+5) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| MARIO
JOLY |
13-28-41
(+4) |
| ALEX
DUNN |
13-20-33
(-13) |
| JOSH
CASH |
4-20-24
(-4) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| ALEXANDRE
VINCENT |
21-11-4
(4 SO)
2.79 GA
.921 PCT |
|
| MIKE
GORMAN |
11-14-3
(3 SO)
3.46 GA
.900 PCT |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Odessa
vs Laredo |
|
|
SCHEDULE |
| 1 |
MAR.
29 |
ODESSA
2 - LAREDO 4 |
SEED
4 |
2 |
MAR.
31 |
ODESSA
3 - LAREDO 6 |
SEED
1 |
32-24-7
(71) |
3 |
APR.
2 |
LAREDO
6 - ODESSA 2 |
42-19-3
(87) |
| |
4 |
APR.
4 |
LAREDO
4 - ODESSA 2 |
|
| |
5 |
APR.
5 |
LAREDO
at ODESSA |
|
| |
6 |
APR.
8 |
ODESSA
at LAREDO |
|
| |
7 |
APR.
9 |
ODESSA
at LAREDO |
|
| Laredo
Wins Series 4-0 |
|
SERIES
PREVIEW |
| |
The
Odessa Jackalopes and Laredo Bucks will square off in
the Laredo Entertainment Center in the second round of
the 2008 CHL playoffs on Saturday. This is a best-of-seven
series and the winner will go on to play the winner of
the New Mexico Scorpion/Arizona SunDogs series.
In the season series the Jacks went 3-0-1 against the
Bucks with the Jacks handing the Bucks their worst loss
of the season, a 6-0 win at home on December 20th. The
Jacks are coming off a tough 2 games to 1 series win against
the Austin Ice Bats and already seem to be in playoff
mode. The Bucks have been idle since last weekend.
Odessa’s “French Connection” line consisting of Sebastien
Thinel (34-49-83), Dominic Leveille (32-49-81), and Olivier
Proulx (12-23-35) has combined for 78 goals and 121 assists
during the season. On the blue line the Jacks are anchored
by top defensemen Mario Joly (13-29-42) and Alex Dunn
(13-20-33). The Jacks are back stopped by rookie goaltender
Alexandre Vincent (2.79 GAA) and veteran Mike Gorman (3.46
GAA). Vincent saw action in the first round of the playoffs
with a 1.32 GAA .955 save percentage and a shutout against
Austin.
Laredo’s top offensive scoring threats are Jeff Bes (46-60-106)
and James Heibert (26-38-64). Bes and Heibert are +40
and +31 respectively on the season. Defensive stand outs
are Adam Rivet (18-30-48) and Serge Dube (9-37-46). In
goal the Bucks have Dustin Traylen (2.23 GAA) and John
Ceci (2.64 GAA).
The Jacks seemed to have the Bucks number during the regular
season. The Bucks head coach Terry Ruskowski has led the
team to playoff appearances in all six seasons winning
two President’s Cup Championships. The ‘Jacks have never
made it past the second round in their eleven seasons
of play. |
|
| Game
1 |
Odessa
2 - Laredo 4 |
| by
Lou Lafrado - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Laredo
Leads Series 1-0 |
Laredo,
TX - The Laredo Bucks entered the postseason again
as the heavy favorites in their conference. Head coach
Terry Ruskowski has known little but success in the Central
Hockey League at the helm of the Bucks.
This year they opened their defense of the Southern Conference
crown against the Odessa Jackalopes, winners of the play-in
series with the Austin IceBats. The Bucks showed there
was little rust on the antlers as they launched 46 shots
on goal including a 20-7 edge in the first period.
While none of those first 20 found the twine two did in
the second period as the Bucks took a 2-1 lead into the
final stanza.
To the Bucks’ credit, their defense ruled for the second
period as they limited the Jacks to four shots on goal
and let their offense and pressure wither the tired Jackalopes.
Odessa’s Mike Rutter knotted the score at two early in
the third but the Bucks had better legs than road weary
Odessa. Jeff Bess and Igor Agarunov closed out the scoring
for Laredo making the final score 4-2 for the Bucks.
Both clubs went one for six on the powerplay.
Odessa’s Alexandre Vincent stopped 42 shots while Laredo’s
Dustin Traylen faced only 24 shots on the night. The Jacks
were a tired squad but managed a good third period showing
in taking 13 shots on Traylen in the third.
The Jacks get a chance to rest this weekend and will not
pick up this series again until Monday night.
Contact the
reporter at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
2 |
Odessa
3 - Laredo 6 |
| by
Lou Lafrado - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Laredo
Leads Series 2-0 |
Laredo,
TX - A night off between games made little difference for the Jackalopes in this best of seven second round series. The Laredo Bucks came out hard and dominated all three periods in taking the 6-3 victory.
The Jackalopes are now faced with the unenviable task of winning four of the next five games against a club that shows little weakness.
On offense and defense the Bucks ruled the ice as they limited the Jacks to 17 shots on goal for the game including three total shots in the second after a paltry five shots in the first.
Laredo’s Chris Stanley netted two goals in the first sandwiched around a marker from Odessa’s Collin Circelli’s powerplay goal.
The Bucks added two more in the second before Nathan Ward’s powerplay goal gave the Jacks some life. But the back-breaker came with a second left in the middle frame when Laredo’s Adam Rivet cashed in a powerplay chance leaving the Jacks trailing 5-2 after two. The clubs traded goals in the third but the Jacks were effectively out of this one from the opening face off.
Penalties were the root cause of Odessa’s problems Monday night as they handed over 13 man advantage situations to the Bucks who converted four. Odessa netted two of their five powerplay chances.
Dustin Traylen picked up the win but could hardly have broken a sweat in the first forty minutes of the game. Meanwhile Alexandre Vincent was shelled most of the night and faced 44 shots, saving 38.
The series now heads to Odessa where the 'Jacks need to sweep for any hope of winning this series and advancing to the conference finals.
Contact the
reporter at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com
|
|
Game
3 |
Laredo 6 - Odessa 2 |
| by
Lou Lafrado - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Laredo
Leads Series 3-0 |
Laredo,
TX - Sensing blood the Laredo Bucks have stepped up their game and are on the verge of sweeping the Odessa Jackalopes from the Central Hockey League playoffs.
This series and the Colorado-Youngstown series in the northern conference point out the real issue in the CHL and that is the disparity between the haves and the have-nots. Clearly Odessa is a good team but they cannot compete with the likes of Laredo in a seven game series.
On Wednesday night, the Bucks scored four straight goals to build a 4-0 lead and spread the scoring around among six different players.
Kevin Wilson’s powerplay goal midway through the second period temporarily stopped the Bucks’ race to the finish and got the Jacks on the board. But Laredo simply went back to work in the third and built a 6-1 lead before Collin Circelli put some window dressing on the final score.
On the up-side for Odessa, they held the Bucks scoreless on the powerplay but only scored once themselves on eight chances.
Alexandre Vincent took the loss for the Jacks but was relieved by Mike Gorman midway through the second. The Bucks were outshot in the game 32-29. Dustin Traylen picked up another win in this series with 30 saves.
The Bucks can go for the sweep on Friday and return home to rest up for the winner of the Arizona-New Mexico series. But the ease of this series suggests they are already rested and eager for a real contest.
Contact the
reporter at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com |
|
Game
4 |
Laredo
4 - Odessa 2 |
| by
Mitch Cooper - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Laredo
Wins Series 4-0 |
Laredo,
TX - The Laredo Bucks completed their relatively easy sweep of the Odessa Jackalopes with a 4-2 win at the Ector County Coliseum Friday night.
The 'Jacks gave their faithful a bit of hope in the first period when Kevin Richardson scored the initial goal of the game. But the Bucks tied it with a Chris Korchinski power play goal and it was pretty much all Laredo from then on.
Laredo put the game away in the second period, netting a second power play goal from Chris Stanley and an even strength goal by Korchinski, his second of the game.
Odessa finally got a power play goal of their own when Collin Circelli beat Laredo goaltender John Ceci to draw within one. But the Bucks answered when James Hiebert scored their third power play goal of the night with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
Laredo now gets the opportunity to sit back and rest a bit while they wait to see who emerges from the Arizona/New Mexico battle. That series is closer than most people expected it to be and could go six or seven games. Laredo would like nothing more than to compete in the conference finals against a tired team.
Contact the
reporter at mitch.cooper@prohockeynews.com
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| Power
Play |
18.0%
- 6th |
| Penalty
Killing |
88.5%
- 1st |
| FORWARDS |
| JEFF
BES |
46-60-106
(+40) |
| JAMES
HIEBERT |
26-38-64
(+31) |
| ANDREW
DESJARDINS |
22-37-59
(+21) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| ADAM
RIVET |
18-30-48
(+29) |
| SERGE
DUBE |
9-37-46
(+25) |
| IGOR
AGARUNOV |
9-13-22
(+11) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| DUSTIN
TRAYLEN |
25-8-2
(3 SO)
2.23 GA
.919 PCT |
|
| JOHN
CECI |
7-7-0
(0 SO)
2.64 GA
.902 |
|
|
|
