Lone Star Brahmas vs Amarillo Bulls Preview
By Kirk Estes
The Lone Star Brahmas will be glad to be out of Wichita Falls this weekend but the road does not get any easier as they head to Amarillo for a pair against the Bulls. In six games against the Bull this season the Brahmas have compiled a 2 – 4 – 0 record.
After completing a 1 – 4 and 5 – 4 split on the road against Topeka last weekend, the Brahmas were in Wichita Falls Wednesday night and came out on the short end of a 7 – 2 score. Paul Fregeau and Ryan Watson had the goals for Lone Star, but only after they were already in a 5 – 0 hole.
Amarillo played in Odessa on Friday and Saturday before returning home with the Jackalopes in tow for a Sunday tilt. The Jackalopes took a surprising 3 – 2 win on Friday stunning the Bulls. Mike Davis and Cody Gylling accounted for the Bulls two goals. Amarillo left nothing to chance on Saturday as they piled on eight goals from eight different shooters in front of a 19 save Colin Delia shutout performance. Brady Ferguson, Gylling, Ben Jentsch, Davis, Mitchell McPherson, Timmy Moore, Matt Seickhaus and Brendan Vetter were the goal scorers. Sunday was a bit closer with Odessa taking an early lead, but Amarillo came roaring back with unanswered goals from McPherson, Patrick Pollock, Roman Ammirato and Ferguson for the 4 – 1 win.
Last 5 Games
W |
L
OTL
Pts
Brahmas
1
4
0
2
Bulls
4
1
0
8
Special Teams
Against the Bulls the Brahmas have managed 5 power play goals in 35 opportunities. The penalty kill has allowed 9 Amarillo goals on 34 penalty kills and have scored a short handed goal against the Bulls.
Overall the Brahmas power play is setting at 21st in the league. However, on the road they are at the bottom of the heap at just 6.3% scoring 5 goals on 79 opportunities. They will have to work especially hard to take advantage of the man advantage against an Amarillo home penalty kill that ranks 3rd in the league. The bulls have allowed only 9 goals on 112 times short handed for a 92.0% efficiency.
When the Brahmas go on the penalty kill they are 23rd in the league at 76.0% giving up 23 power play goals on 96 opportunities. The Bulls’ home power play is setting the standard for the league at 26.3% scoring 26 times on 99 power plays.
Goaltending Comparison Last 5 Games
GP |
W
L
OTL
SO
GA
GAA
SV
SV%
Brahmas
5
1
4
0
0
23
4.60
128
.848
Bulls
5
4
1
0
1
8
1.60
133
.943
Who is Hot (Last 5 Games)
| Brahmas | G |
A
Pts
Anthony Mousseau0
4
4
Ryan Watson
2
1
3
Paul Fregeau
2
1
3
Sebastian Vidmar1
2
3
Alexey Solovyev1
1
2
BullsG
A
Pts
Brady Ferguson
3
3
6
Cody Gylling
3
3
6
Mitchell McPherson
3
2
5
Mike Davis
3
2
5
Patrick Pollock
2
3
5
Inside the Game
Jan Hudecek 2G – 4A is leading the Brahmas in scoring against Amarillo in spite of playing in only three of the six games. Matt Lison 3G – 2A and Conner Enciso 1G – 4A each have five points in the season series.
For Amarillo it has been Joe Grabowski 2G – 5A, Mike Davis 4G – 2A, Brady Ferguson 2G – 3A and Matt Sieckhaus 2G – 3A leading the charge.
TJ Black has played very well against Amarillo. In four games he has a 2 – 2 – 0 record with a 1.45 GAA and a .950 SV%.
Amarillo has five skaters ranked in the top 18 scorers in the league.
Tyler Gernhofer leads the league in goals scored with 23. Matt Lison leads the Brahmas with 15. Ten of Gernhofers goals have come via the power play.
Amarillo Defenseman Joe Grabowski is second in the league in minor penalties with 34.
Alexey Solovyev’s 6 goals scored has him tied at fourth among Defensemen with Amarillo’s Joe Grabowski and Brendan Vetter.
Bulls netminder Colin Delia is third in the league with a 1.48 GAA and a .942 SV% and is second with 6 shutouts.
The Bulls (24.66 min per game) and Brahmas (24.47 min per game) are 1st and 3rd in penalty minutes. Lone Star is tied with Amarillo for the lead in 10 minute misconduct penalties with 16 apiece. Amarillo leads the league in minors with 300 and overall penalty minutes with 1085. The Bulls are third in majors with 37 and the Brahmas are sixth with 32.
Lone Star is 2 – 1 in OT and 5 – 2 in shootouts this season. Amarillo is 2 – 1 in OT and 1 – 1 in shootouts.
The Brahmas are 10 – 2 – 3 in one goal games wile Amarillo is 7 – 4 – 2 under the same circumstances.