 |
| Power
Play |
18.5%
- 4th |
| Penalty
Killing |
84.5%
- 5th |
| FORWARDS |
| JORDAN
CAMERON |
30-34-64
(+4) |
| BLAIR
MANNING |
11-52-63
(-2) |
| ANDERS
STROME |
34-26-60
(+2) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| JUSTIN
KINNUNEN |
11-32-43
(+16) |
| KEVIN
McLEOD |
12-22-34
(-1) |
| CRAIG
MINARD |
2-21-23
(-2) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| DAVID
CACCIOLA |
26-15-1
(2 SO)
2.94 GA
.909 PCT |
|
| BRETT
JAEGER |
13-6-1
(0 SO)
2.52 GA
.921 PCT |
|
 |
|
 |
| |
Texas
vs Mississippi |
|
|
SCHEDULE |
| 1 |
MAR.
24 |
TEXAS
3 - MISSISSIPPI 6 |
SEED
5 |
2 |
MAR.
26 |
MISSISSIPPI
0 - TEXAS 3 |
SEED
4 |
40-22-2
(82) |
3 |
MAR.
27 |
MISSISSIPPI
1 - TEXAS 3 |
39-21-4
(82) |
| Texas
Wins Series 2-1 |
| SERIES
PREVIEW |
| by
LOU LAFRADO - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM
|
Southaven,
MS
- The Mississippi RiverKings made it to the Central Hockey
League’s postseason in a tough division and even tougher
conference. The entire Northeast division qualified for
the postseason and pursuit of the Ray Miron Cup.
The RiverKings (39-21-4) made it in as the fifth seed
in the Northern Conference and tied their first round
foes in points at 82. The Kings have played very well
at times this season and only moderately well at others
but always well enough to post points or stay respectable.
The result was a late push.
Meanwhile, the Texas Brahmas used a post-All-Star run
to qualify for the playoffs this season. Few teams were
as hot as the Brahmas in the second half of the season
(40-22-2) and overcame early season favorites including
the Rocky Mountain Rage who faded all the way out of the
playoff hunt in the dying weeks of the 2007-08 season.
The play-in round begins March 24th on Mississippi ice
and is a best-of-three series with the winner getting
the unenviable task of facing the Bossier-Shreveport MudBugs
in the next round.
The RiverKings will feature Sebastian Centomo in net while
the Brahmas will likely go with David Cacciola. Centomo
posted an 18-9-3 record with three shutouts and a 2.51
goals-against average. Cacciola (26-15-2) posted two shutouts
and a 2.94 goals-against average. After playing a mostly
platoon situation in New Mexico last season, Cacciola
was the workhorse in net and was steady enough to give
his teammates confidence in their netminder. The issue
will be how well he can face the added pressure of the
playoffs and an intense three-game series.
For this series, the nod could go to the RiverKings and
Centomo. They have more experience in the playoffs.
On the forward lines for the Brahmas, Anders Strome led
the club with 34 goals and 60 points while Jordan Cameron
was a close second in goals at 30 but posted 34 assists
for 64 points. Blair Manning was the ultimate setup man
with 52 assists on the season and 63 points. For the Kings,
Chad Woollard led the way with goals at 37 (for 68 points)
with Ryan Campbell and Ryan Held each chipping in 30 goals
this season.
Scoring is a push for both teams on the forward lines.
The difference maker for the forwards is on the plus/minus
ranking for the teams as a whole. The RiverKings posted
a plus-85 on the season while the Brahmas posted a minus-8.
That statistic gives the nod to the RiverKings.
On defense, the RiverKings are led by Derek Landmesser,
who collected 50 points on 42 assists and was a plus-22
this season. Also on the blueline is Steve Makway, who
was plus-20 and picked up 11 goals and 43 points. Both
are solid in their own zone and have talent to dish the
puck out of the zone or carry up ice to pressure the Brahmas.
n Fort Worth, the Brahmas are led on defense by Justin
Kinnonen who was a plus-18 this season and picked up 11
goals and 32 assists through 64 games. Kevin McLeod (12
goals and 43 points) was a minus-1 this year and will
need step up his defensive effort in this short series.
The nod on defense has to go to the RiverKings with their
offensive output and steady defensive work.
The intangibles in this series are few. As the fourth
seed in the conference, the Brahmas have home ice advantage.
If they steal Game One in Mississippi then they have the
upper hand for the final two games in Fort Worth.
Author's prediction: Mississippi RiverKings in three games.
Contact
the reporter at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com |
|
|
Game
1 |
Texas
3 - Mississippi 6 |
| by
LOU LAFRADO - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Mississippi
Leads Series 1-0 |
Southaven, MS - One could hardly have written
a more perfect opening game of this play-in series in
the Central Hockey League for the Mississippi River Kings
and Chad Woollard.
The RiverKings’ scoring leader (and former Brahmas' star)
picked up two first period goals and led to the Kings
to a 3-0 first period lead and 6-3 victory over the Texas
Brahmas on home ice. Brahmas’ netminder David Cacciola
was pulled in the second period after giving up a fourth
score. Jason Lawmaster netted his first goal of the postseason
to make it 4-0. Brett Jaeger was effective in net stopping
14 of 15 shots, but he was in net while the Kings made
it 5-0.
For Texas the offense came to life late in the second
when rookie Tyler Skworchinski picked up his first postseason
goal as a professional. Anders Strome and Greg McConnell
tried to make interesting, but Mississippi goalie Sebastian
Centomo was solid in net and made sure the Brahmas would
not get any closer than 5-3. An empty net goal from Darrell
Stoddard closed the scoring for the RiverKings.
The series now shifts to North Richland Hills, Texas and
the Brahmas' home ice where they need to win two in a
row over a now determined and confident RiverKings squad.
Cacciola’s early departure should be a sign of trouble
for Texas as once again he has not lived up to the regular
season effort.
Contact the reporter at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com |
|
| Game
2 |
Mississippi
0 - Texas 3 |
| by
LOU LAFRADO - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Series
Tied 1-1 |
North
Richland Hills, TX - Brahmas netminder
Brett Jaeger entered this series in the second period
of Texas 6-3 loss to the RiverKings. He replaced a shaky
David Cacciola in game one and has been stellar in net.
In fact, Jaeger backstopped a shutout in game two of this
series and gave the Brahmas the momentum they lost on
Mississippi ice. Jaegers steady play as the series backup
goaltender ended with the Brahmas evening the best of
three series and forcing a series finale Thursday night
in Texas.
While brilliant in net, Jaeger (first star of the game)
was supported by a tight defensive effort that limited
the RiverKings to 23 total shots to outduel Sebastian
Centomo for win.
Greg McConnell, Grant Jacobsen and Scott Sheppard scored
for the Brahmas with two of those coming on the powerplay
in the second and third periods. Texas went 2 for 11 on
the powerplay and may want to step that effort up Thursday
night to advance to the series against the MudBugs.
On the other side of the side, the RiverKings were scoreless
on four powerplay chances (though two were shortened by
matching calls). The Kings seemed to lose their composure
in the third leading to a parade of players to the penalty
box effectively limiting their offensive output in the
final frame where they mustered only 4 shots on goal.
The lone intangible in this series now comes to the fore
as the Brahmas take advantage of their home ice.
Expect to see Brett Jaeger in net Thursday night as the
Brahmas will try to closeout the RIverKings and move on
to Bossier-Shreveport.
Contact
the reporter at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com |
|
| Game
3 |
Mississippi
2 - Texas 3 |
|
by
LOU LAFRADO - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM
| Texas
Wins Series 2-1 |
North Richland Hills, TX - Brett Jaeger was the back-up in net in game one of this series. Now he may hold the number one status heading into the series with the Bossier-Shreveport MudBugs.
Jaeger was key as he "only" shutout the Mississippi RiverKings Wednesday night and hold them to 2 goals Thursday night in a 3-2 series clinching win.
In the series preview the edge in goal went to the Kings and Sebastien Centomo over David Cacciola. But the Brahmas had their hand forced in game one when Cacciola was predictably ineffective.
Mississippi got one the board early when Ryan Held potted a powerplay marker at 5:52 of the first. Scott Sheppard and Anders Strome gave the Brahmas the 2-1 lead by the end of the first. Sheppard picked up his second of the game in the second on a penalty shot
The Kings’ Ryan Campbell made it interesting in the third when he netted a shorthanded goal with just over five minutes left in the contest.
But Jaeger rose to the occasion for the balance of the third period and ended the game stopping 41 of 43 RiverKings’ shots on goal.
Up next for the Brahmas is a MudBug squad fresh off the Governor’s Cup Trophy win. Can the Brahmas ride the momentum of this series win into the next round? Will Jaeger remain the go to goalie in this series?
Contact the reporter at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| Power
Play |
14.5%
- 15th |
| Penalty
Killing |
86.7%
- 3rd |
| FORWARDS |
| RYAN
CAMPBELL |
30-46-76
(+19) |
| CHAD
WOOLLARD |
37-31-68
(+15) |
| RYAN
HELD |
30-33-63
(+14) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| DEREK
LANDMESSER |
8-42-50
(+22) |
| STEVE
MAKWAY |
11-32-43
(+20) |
| AARON
DAVIS |
21-24-45
(+7) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| SEBASTIEN
CENTOMO |
18-9-3
(3 SO)
2.51 GA
.915 PCT |
|
| IAN
KESERICH |
13-7-1
(1 SO)
2.64 GA
.916 PCT |
|
|
|
