LAREDO, TEXAS – It’s the crash of clashing antlers that CHL fans will be hearing again this season as the Odessa Jackalopes and the Laredo Bucks butt heads for the fourth time in the CHL playoffs. The Buck won the previous three postseason series, and hold an 11-3 playoff record against the Jackalopes. Last season, the Bucks swept the Jacks 4-0. This season, however, Odessa’s antlered rabbits are seeded above Laredo. During regular season matchups, the Jackalopes were 3-1-0 against the Bucks. Both teams have similar records during the season’s final 10 games with Laredo going 5-4-1, and Odessa 6-4-0. Laredo ended the season with 77 points (36-23-5), but were bettered in the Southeast Division by the Texas Brahmas. Odessa won their first Southwest Division title since the 2005-2006 season, finishing 39-19-6 for 84 points. Offense The Bucks have lost two-time CHL MVP Jeff Bes to a season-ending injury on January 26, leaving them without their all-time leading scorer. Former Team Captain Brent Cullaton was re-acquired by the Bucks on February 2nd, and went on to lead Laredo in scoring with 72 points (20-52=72). Additionally, the Bucks have Rookie of the Year Darryl Smith (36 goals, 34 assists, 70 points). This season’s league MVP skates for the Jacks, Sebastian Thinel (38 goals, 59 assists, 97 points). But Odessa’s scoring power doesn’t end with Thinel. Odessa finished second in the league in goals per game (4.06) and can boast three of the top ten scorers in the CHL this season – Thinel, Dominic Leveille (26 points, 54 assists, 80 points) and Kory Korlander (33 points, 43 assists, 76 points.) Defense Laredo was one of seven CHL teams to allow fewer than 200 goals this season with 187 goals against. The Bucks allowed and impressive 2.92 goals per game for the season. Odessa allowed a paltry 3.20 goals per game, 205 goal against in all. Specialty Teams Both the Bucks and the Jacks play effectively shorthanded. Odessa sported an impressive 84.75 percent penalty kill. Laredo finished the season with 85.29 percent. During the last 13 games, the Bucks powerplay lines have only managed 8 goals out of 59 opportunities. During the season, Laredo’s powerplay was successful 18.16 percent of the time scoring 67 times. Odessa, with 108 powerplay goals, scored almost a quarter of the time (22.64 percent) with a man advantage. Goaltending With a successful defensive core, goaltending becomes an easier chore. Both teams claim netminders with over .900 save percentages. Laredo’s Sebastien Centomo is the only netminder of the four in this series to win 20 games, finishing 20-17-2. Acquired in January of this year, the Bucks’ Andrew Martin is 6-3-1 in net. Odessa’s Alexandre finished the season with and impressive 16-3-3 record. Against the Bucks, Odessa netminder Juha Toivonen was 1-1-0 in 118 minutes of play. Series Outlook During the regular season, Odessa dominated the series between the two teams. Unless Laredo finds the wheels to their struggling powerplay, the advantage goes to the Jackalopes to take the series in five games. contact the author at rushe.hudson@prohockeynews.com.
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