Lone Star Brahmas – Rio Grande Killer Bees Preview
By Kirk Estes
The Lone Star Brahmas will play a single NAHL South Division game this weekend against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees at the St Farm Arena in Hidalgo, TX. While the Brahmas have had difficulty putting wins on the board this season, they have managed a 2 – 2 – 1 record against the Killer Bees.
Wednesday was Military Appreciation Night at the NyTex Sports Centre and 1,849 were on hand to see the Brahmas drop a 3 – 1 decision to the visiting Wichita Falls Wildcats. The visitors went into the third period with a 2 – 0 lead based on two first period tallies. Jan Hudecek pulled the Brahmas to within a single goal at 14:21 when he put back an RJ Salvato rebound. Captain Matt Lison picked up the secondary assist on the play. Lone Star kept up the pressure late, but a too many men bench minor prevented them from using the extra attacker down the stretch. Wichita Falls got an empty net goal with one second left for the final score.
Rio Grande made the trip to Odessa for a quick one game meeting with the Jackalopes on Friday. Odessa got out to an early lead in the first just to see Evan Schmidbauer tie it up midway through the period. The Jackalopes put the game away in the second with a pair of goals by Alex Alger and one by ex-Brahma Leo Lumm. Odessa added a fifth goal in the third before Ben Greiner and Trent Dillinger scored for the Killer Bees to arrive at the 5 – 3 final. Olli Kalkaja had an off night in net allowing 3 goals on 4 shots in 20 minutes played. Nick Schmit made 18 saves on 22 shots. Eric Hancock was in net for Odessa and got the win with 22 saves.
| Last 5 Games | W | L | OTL | Pts |
| Brahmas | 1 |
4
0
2
Killer Bees
1
4
0
2
Special Teams
The Brahmas’ power play has hit the bottom of the league standings overall at only 8.4%. Against Rio Grande they are only 1 – 14 with the man advantage. Rio Grande has taken advantage of their power play chances though at a 30.0% pace with six goals on 20 opportunities. With only a four goal differential in regulation during their five games head-to-head, the power play differential is a glaring concern.
On the road the Brahmas power play is at only 7.0% scoring just 3 goals on 43 opportunities to rank 20th in the league. The Killer Bees’ home penalty kill is tied for 16th in the league at 83.3% having killed off 40 or 48 penalties.
Lone Star’s road penalty kill has fared no better than the power play, they currently set last in the league at just 67.3% having allowed 17 goals on 52 opponent power plays. The Brahmas will have their work cut out for them against Rio Grande. The Killer Bees home power play is 5th in the league scoring on 10 of 44 opportunities for 22.7%.
Goaltending Comparison Last 5 Games
GP |
W
L
OTL
SO
GA
GAA
SV
SV%
Brahmas
5
1
4
0
0
15
3.00
127
.894
Killer Bees
5
1
4
0
1
18
3.60
107
.856
Who is Hot (Last 5 Games)
| Brahmas | G |
A
Pts
Matt Lison
3
1
4
1
0
1
Jan Hudecek
1
0
1
1
0
1
Eight Tied At
0
1
0
Killer BeesG
A
Pts
Ben Greiner
3
2
5
Evan Schmidbauer
2
2
4
2
2
4
0
3
3
1
1
2
Inside the Game
Matt Lison with 3G – 1A and Liam Stirtzinger with 2G – 2A lead the Brahmas in scoring against Rio Grande. Ben Greiner has 1G – 6A to lead the Killer Bees against the Brahmas. Anthony Croston, Tyler Bruneteau and Dylan Abood have each chipped in five points apiece.
Lone Star’s Anthony Mousseau is tied for 13th in the league in Defenseman scoring with 3G – 9A.
Geriner is tied for 10th in the league in scoring with 11G – 13A in 25 games played and first in shots on goal with 123.
Defenseman Alexey Solovyev leads the league in Defenseman shootout goals with two and shootout percentage at 100%. One shootout goal came against Olli Kalkaja and the Killer Bees.
Rio Grande has been in 6 shootouts this season and allowed 12 goals in 29 opponent attempts for 22nd in the league.
Rio Grande’s Adam Morrison is second in the league in PIM’s with 79.
The Brahmas are the second most penalized team in the league averaging 23.88 minutes per game. Rio Grande is ninth at 18.92 minutes per game. The Killer Bees are tied for second in Major Penalties with 23.
Olli Kalkaja’s 2.05GAA is good for eighth in the league and he is fourth in the league in minutes played with 1143:08.
Rio Grande has a 5 – 5 – 3 record at home and 8 – 2 – 2 on the road.
Lone Star averages 2.00 goals scored per game and allows 3.96 per game. Rio Grande scores 2.52 per game while allowing 2.28.
Roster Movement Since Last Meeting
The Brahmas released Forward Will White. They also made moves in net with Jacob Nehama traded to the USHL Lincoln Stars and Shane Joyce traded to the USPHL Jr Islanders. JT Black was brought in last week to replace Nehama and Ryan Mulka who previously played one game for Rio Grande was brought onboard to replace Joyce. Defenseman Austin Thielges was reactivated from the injured list. The Brahmas have also added Flower Mound native Cody Wickline to the Forward line. Wickline who is 6’ 0” – 179 has put up 18 points on 8G – 10A with the Dallas Stars Tier 1 Midget team.
Rio Grande Valley made a trade of Forwards with Bismarck sending Nathan Flynn to the Bobcats in exchange for Jared Dedenbach. Another move among forwards was the release of Sami Pokka.