LAREDO, Texas – Down two games to none returning to Laredo, the Jackalope squad used their few days off to think about their fading playoff hopes. Once again, Odessa would outshoot the Laredo 46-25 before the Laredo Entertainment Center crowd of 6,527 fans. This time the results would be different. In this third game of the series, Troy, Michigan native Jeff Pierce snagged a loose puck at the slot and scored on a wrist shot just 3:07 into the first. It was Pierce’s first career playoff goal. Credited with assists for the opening goal were Philippe Plante and Jean Bourbeau. Remember that last name. Laredo, showing the reason they stand at 17-4 in playoff games quickly erased Odessa’s lead. Nearing the ten-minute mark of the first period, the Bucks would score twice in a span of 16 seconds putting the Jacks back on their heels once again. Matt Miller picked up a loose puck just inside the blue line and scored on a wrister from the slot. The goal was Miller’s first of the postseason, with Jason Dixon and Adam Rivet picking up assists. The two teams battled back and forth throughout the second period, when, once again, Odessa would end up paying dearly fo r a trip to the sin bin. Following an elbowing call on Russ Moyer at 12:32 of the second period, Laredo’s revived powerplay would once again strike on a goal by veteran defenseman Sege Dube. Dube took the puck at the left point and skated to the end line, before sending a wrist shot into the net from an odd angle. It was Dube’s eleventh playoff goal with the Bucks. Ryan Salvis and Brent Cullaton were credited with the assists. After three games in this series, Odessa on the other hand have yet been able to find success with their powerplay units, going 0-4 for the evening. With the dire consequences of falling behind 3-0 in this series, Odessa obviously dug deep during the second intermission to find whatever motivation was necessary to avoid the push towards a repeat of last season’s 4-0 playoff elimination. For the second time in the series the Bucks could not hold a two-goal lead, as the Jacks scored twice to send the game into overtime. Laredo’s lead was cut to 3-2 as Mike Ramsay scored on a wrister from the slot 8:40 into the third period. The goal was Ramsay’s first of the playoffs. With 6:42 left in the third period, the Jackalopes would tie the game at 3-3, when Kenny Bernard scored on a rebound in the crease. Remember the assist in the opening period score? Jean Bourbeau the Bonnyville, Alberta native, scored 5:15 into overtime to give the Jackalopes the victory. Boubeau’s game-winning goal was assisted by Paul Kelly and Dave Van Drunen. For the third time in the series, Odessa would lopsidedly outshoot Laredo 46-25 shots. Juha Toivonen set aside 22 of 25 shots to pick up the win for Odessa, while Sebastien Centomo stopped 42 of 46 in his losing effort for Laredo. The two teams will faceoff again Friday at the LEC.
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