Brahmas win Back & Fourth Affair in OT, Take 2-0 Series Lead

From the Central Hockey League Website: www.centralhockeyleague.com

It may be another playoff season but some things never change as last year's championship hero's for the Texas Brahmas, Brett Jeager and Tyler Skworchinski, are at it again the Brahmas to a 3-2 OT Victory in Odessa on Saturday Night giving the defending champions a 2-0 lead in their best of 7 series. The Series' shifts back to Texas for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday & Friday Nights respectively.

Skworchinski had an unbelievable post-season a year ago scoring 13 times including 5 game winners and this season is taking the same shape if not one that is more impressive. On Saturday night, Skworchinski scored a pair of goals including the game winner in OT with less then 10 seconds remaining in the extra session. He now has four goals in his last three games this season.

Jeager made 46 saves in the game winning his fourth straight decision in this year's playoffs and seventh straight dating back to last year's Ray Miron President's Cup Championship Season. The Brahmas never trailed in Game Two as Lee Jubinville scored less then two minutes into the first period giving Texas a 1-0 lead. Odessa battled back with Sebastien Thinel scoring just under 10 minutes into the first making it 1-1.

In the 2nd period, Skworchinski scored a power play goal making it 2-1 Texas which is where it stayed until the third period where Kory Karlander tied the game early in the final frame. In the OT, the Jacks had two power play chances taking the league's best man advantage during the regular season and having a chance to tie the series but Jeager made several key saves.

Joel Martin finished with 27 saves but takes the loss as he was also awesome throughout most of the game but with less then 10 seconds remaining in the first OT a puck got away from him and was directed in by a crashing Skworchinski.

The Jacks lose back-to-back home games for the first time since late November and for just the second time this season.

Texas Brahmas Lead This Series 2-0


Game Boxscore

Texas Brahmas 3 Odessa Jackalopes 2 (OT) (1-1, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0)

1-0 TEX: Lee Jubinville (Burto) 1:54 1st

1-1 ODE: Sebastien Thinel (Pierce, Van Drunen) 9:11 1st

2-1 TEX: Tyler Skworchinski (PP) (Deitsch, Jubinville) 8:27 2nd

2-2 ODE: Kory Karlander (Van Drunen, Leveille) 2:23 3rd

3-2 TEX: Tyler Skworchinski (Kinnunen, Cameron) 19:53 OT


Game Stats

SOG: TEX 30 ODE 48

PP: TEX 1/6 ODE 0/8

PIM: TEX 18 Minutes on 9 Penalties ODE 14 Minutes on 7 Penalties

Goalies: TEX Brett Jeager 46 SVS on 48 Shots ODE Joel Martin 27 SVS on 30 Shots

ATT: 3622

3rd Star: Dave Van Drunen (ODE)

2nd Star: Lee Jubinville (TEX)

1st Star: Tyler Skworchinski (TEX)