ODESSA, Texas – Smarting from Friday night’s loss to the Americans and with flashbacks of going down 2-0 at home against the Texas Brahma’s swirling through their minds, the Odessa Jackalopes pounced on the opening face off Saturday night like a famished man at an all you can eat buffet.
Determined not go down two games to none, the Jacks unleashed salvo after salvo in a furious siege on the Allen Americans’ net, but it would take four periods for them to best the effort of opposing goaltender Chris Whitley.
Things got off to a bang, or it should be said, “bam”, at the one minute mark when Liam Huculak and Garrett Gruenke dropped the mitts and got in a quick sparring session before heading to the ice and then the penalty box. Odessa was sending a message; they would not go quietly into the night and their ensuing offensive assault would prove that sentiment true.
Odessa got on the board first 7:40 into the opening frame when Jean Bourbeau intercepted a puck inside the Americans blue line, wheeled and fired a beautiful wrist shot that sailed past the glove of Whitley.
The Americans didn’t waste time answering back however; just over a minute later Justin Bowers redirected a point shot by Tyler Wooddisse past Jackalopes goaltender Joel Martin.
The Jackalopes went on the power play and made it count with four minutes remaining in the period when Kenny Bernard was able to bang in a rebound off a shot from Dominic Leveille.
The opening period belonged to the Jackalopes, registering 19 shots to the Americans’ paltry 5 attempts on net and they held the lead 2-1.
The second period was slower paced in comparison to the first and the game started getting chippy with a lot of after the whistle get-together, but no further fisticuffs. Odessa was determined to take the physical game to Allen and it showed with several good hits dished out, two that singled out Tyler Wooddisse and left him shook up and slow to get to his feet both times.
The end of the second period saw Allen having a slight advantage over the Jackalopes 8-6, but the score remained 2-1 in favor of Odessa.
The third period picked up where the second left off; lots of physical play on both sides and Odessa pushing hard to get chances on the Americans net.
The Jacks were caught by surprise when Liam Huculak scored an opportunistic goal, hustling to grab a loose rebound badly played by Martin and jamming it into the net to bring the score even at 2-2.
The goal lit a fire under Odessa and they went back into full assault mode, taking seven unanswered shots on the Americans net over the next five minutes. The Jacks upped their physical play, throwing big hits trying to take the Americans off their game, but Allen seemed unfazed.
Midway through the third period the Americans scored the go-ahead goal but it was quickly waved off as the official claimed Martin had control of it as it trickled to the back of the net.
Whitley continued to weather the Jacks assault, shunting aside everything put at him by Odessa before the momentum shifted and the Allen offense went to work with eight shots in the final minutes of the period.
A late period penalty on Brandon Straub gave Odessa the man advantage for the last 46 seconds of regulation but they were unable to get one past Whitley. Shots at the end of regulation were 9-8 Odessa.
The overtime period began with the Jacks still on the power play for 1:14 but they were unable to manage a shot on net. Play went end to end throughout overtime but the superior passing of the Jacks allowed them to gain the better offensive chances early. That Jacks offensive attack was relentless as they outshot the Americans 9-2 in the first eight minutes of overtime but were unable to break through the wall that Whitley had constructed between the pipes for the Americans.
The Jacks were put to the test when Allen went on the power play, Odessa’s Alex Dunn was called for roughing when the ref spied him giving a fist to the face of Mike Salekin. The Americans power play was very effective for a change in setting up and executing quick shots on net, as opposed to their usual deliberate power play that produces an anemic number of shots on net. A combined effort by the Odessa players throwing their bodies in front of shots and Joel Martin making some great saves, kept the Americans from getting the game winner with the man advantage.
The momentum stayed with Allen as the penalty expired and they kept play in the Jacks zone for several more good attempts but came up empty. With time running short in the extra frame Odessa made a rush down the ice and it would be Jeff Pierce who was to be the hero of game two, when his wrister found the back of the net past a screened Whitley with 3:17 remaining in the first overtime.
With the series now knotted at one game apiece, the series now heads to Allen where the teams will play three games at the Allen Event Center beginning on Wednesday night.
Contact the author at maurice.fitzgerald@prohockeynews.com
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