PHN playoff game of the day

ODESSA, Texas – After winning three straight in the regular season the Jackalopes have now dropped two straight to the Bucks including the regular season and last night’s opening game of this best-of-seven series. With the win the Bucks now have home ice advantage in this series and the ‘Jacks should be feeling a bit of pressure. Laredo jumped in front as Darryl Smith and Bobby Russell netted powerplay markers in the first and second periods respectively. Smit h’s came with eight seconds left in the opening period. Meanwhile Odessa was

stymied through 40 minutes as Bucks’ goaltender Sebastien Centomo was stopping everything the ‘Jacks threw his way while making 20 saves. The third period was all Odessa as they launched 18 shots on goal. Collin Circelli ignited the ‘Jacks with a goal at the 0:41 mark of the third to get the crowd back into the game.  Then about three minutes later Dave van Drunen tied the score up at two. For the remainder of the third period both teams played tight looking for the other to make a mistake.  Centomo managed 16 more saves in the period on 18 shots which gave the Bucks the chance to win in overtime. Smith ended the game the way he started by taking a feed from James Hiebert and beating Guy St. Vincent for the game-winner and series lead at 8:14 of the overtime period. The teams have little time to think about the game or outcome as game two is Saturday night in Odessa. The ‘Jacks have had a successful season and can ill afford to head to Laredo down 2-0. Contact Pro Hockey News at rushe.hudson@prohockeynews.com.