Brahmas explode for 5 in 3rd period, Take Series Opener

After going down 1-0 midway through the 1st period. It was a 3rd period explision where 4 goals in just under 5 minutes that shocked the Odessa Jackalopes and helped the defending CHL Presidents Cup Championships take the opening game over in Odessa in the best-of-7 series'.

From the Central Hockey League: www.centralhockeyleague.com

It was more then a just a game one semifinals game Friday Evening as memories continued to linger over last season's tough series between the teams in which the Brahmas took Game 7 with a decisive 8-1 victory to advance and ulitmately win the team's first league championship. Odessa, seeking a sense of redemption, put the first tally on the board with the lethal powerplay when Alex Dunn skated in and drilled a shot passed Brett Jeager in the 1st period. The tally would be the sole score in the 1st 2 periods.

In a matter of 1:17 into the 3rd period the Brahmas tied the game at 1-1 and then took the lead beginning when James Hiebert set the table for Matt Pierece who was planted in front of Joel Martin's goal crease for his 2nd of the post-season. Forward Lee Jubinville followed the goal when he took a feed from Jordan Cameron, beating Martin who apperared to not see the shot.

At the 5:00 mark a shot from Justin Kinnunen on the powerplay bounced off Jack Garrett Gruenke deflected in for a Texas two goal lead. The Brahmas continued to stay hot and this time rookie blueliner Tyrell Mason converted for his first goal of the playoffs as he skated in from the left point and rifled a shot to the back of the net.

Life cameback to Odessa near the midway marker in the final period when Mike Lesperance from the top of the left circle drilled a shot to put the Jacks within two. But just as the crowd began to get involved, Texas A.J. Gale came in all alone and with a wrister beat Martin for the Brahmas fifth goal in the 3rd period. Brett Jeager stopped 29 saves for the victory in the net and his third straight in the playoffs.

Game two of the Best of 7 series is tomorrow night in Odessa with a 7:05 PM Start Time.

Texas Brahmas Lead Series 1-0

Game Boxscore

Texas Brahmas 5 Odessa Jackalopes 2 (0-1, 0-0, 5-1)

0-1 ODE: Alex Dunn (PP) (Leveille, Karlander) 12:14 1st

1-1 TEX: Matt Pierce (Hiebert, Jacobsen) 1:07 3rd

2-1 TEX: Lee Jubinville (Cameron, Kinnunen) 2:27 3rd

3-1 TEX: Justin Kinnunen (PP) (Jacobsen, Cameron) 5:00 3rd

4-1 TEX: Tyrell Mason (Jacobsen, Hiebert) 6:44 3rd

4-2 ODE: Mike Lesperance (Leveille, Swiniarski) 8:24 3rd

5-2 TEX: AJ Gale (Thauwald, Mason) 17:36 3rd


Game Stats

SOG: TEX 34 ODE 31

PP: TEX 1/4 ODE 1/2

PIM: TEX 12 Minutes on 6 Penalties ODE 16 Minutes on 8 Penalties

Goalies: TEX Brett Jeager 29 SVS on 31 Shots ODE Joel Martin 29 SVS on 34 Shots

ATT: 2843

3rd Star: Dominic Leveille (ODE)

2nd Star: Grant Jacobsen (TEX)

1st Star: James Hienert (TEX)