FORT WORTH, Texas – The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees were buzzing for a victory to even the series in Game Two of the CHL Southern Conference Semi Finals against the Texas Brahmas at the NYTex Sports Centre but try as they might, Rio Grande was handed their second defeat in as many days.
Unlike Game One, it was the Killer Bees that netted the first goal at 12:01 of the first period by last minute roster addition Brennan Sarazin with assists coming from Evan Rankin and Kurtis Dulle. The goal gave Rio Grande a brief glimmer of hope for a possible win but the flicker of a victory and their only lead of the game soon diminished as Greg McConnell answered unassisted for Texas at 16:51 followed by teammate Brandon Benedict at 18:09 with assists coming from Jason Deitsch and Craig Minard putting Texas up 2-1.
The Killer Bees were able to bring the game back within reach by securing the first goal of the physical penalty packed second period at 6:20 by Matt Byrnes but Texas redirected Rio Grande by securing two more goals, the first from Benedict at 14:48 and the second from Deitsch, a power play score with one second remaining in the period deflating any confidence Rio Grande may have pulled together.
Things appeared to turn around for Rio Grande as the Bees fired off two power play goals in the third period from Grant Goeckner-Zoller and Rankin but it wasn’t enough as the Texas defense stood strong even when Rio Grande pulled goalie Wylie Rogers for the sixth attacker at 59:27.
The Brahmas 5-4 win put the Killer Bees down by two games and into a must win situation for one of the next two games that will be played on RGV’s home ice starting on Wednesday, April 1 at the Hive with face-off slated for 7:00 PM CST.
Contact the author: brian.mclean@prohockeynews.com
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