NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — The Texas Brahmas returned to the locker and bedroom comforts of home after completing their longest road trip of the season, a six game trek.
The road schedule over 11 days had Texas playing back-to-back games in Mississippi, followed by three games in Arizona with the sixth and final contest in Louisiana. When all was said and done, Texas split the road trip down the middle walking away with three notches each in the win / loss column which included a shoot out loss to the Mississippi Riverkings in game two of the six.
Along with the SOL in the second game, Texas dropped the first game against the Riverkings and the first of three against the Sundogs but the Brahmas were able to reverse their losing ways by taking the games four and five from Arizona and game six from Shreveport. The victory in Shreveport marked the sixth consecutive Texas win against the Mudbugs this season.
When the Brahmas returned to the NYTex Sports Centre on Friday, December 26, it marked the first time the Texas has played host since their contest against the visiting Southeast division mates Rio Grande Killer Bees on December 6. The night proved victorious as Brahmas goalie Brett Jaeger blanked the Bees 2-0 thus recording his first shutout of the season.
Ironically, it was the Killer Bees that the Brahmas hosted upon their return to home ice. But this time, the Bees returned the favor and played post-Christmas scrooge with a shutout win against Texas. The Brahmas did rebound the following night Oklahoma City Blazers with a 4-3 win.
Texas went into the two-game weekend sitting firmly in second place of the Southeast division with a record of 16-8-3 for 35 points, two points behind the first place Laredo Bucks. As expected, home ice has been kind to Brahmas where they have posted an impressive 9-2-1 record when compared to their woes on the road with a 7-6-1 effort.
The two games were vital for the Brahmas as the division leading Laredo Bucks road tripped northwest visiting the league leading Colorado Eagles and Rocky Mountain Rage for a weekend trio of games. Laredo dropped one game to the Eagles and two to the Rage (one in overtime). Currently, the Brahmas 37 point total trails the Bucks by two points in the standings.
The Brahmas have two home games slated against divisional opponent Corpus Christi within the next several days. Texas will then embark on a four-game road trip that will see the Brahmas meeting up with the Bucks on January 3, the only divisional game during the four-game trip.
Contact the author at:brian.mclean@prohockeynews.com
