Lone Star Brahmas vs Corpus Christi Icerays Preview
By Kirk Estes
The Lone Star Brahmas can expect the Corpus Christi Icerays to be in a foul mood when they arrive at the NYTEX Sports Centre on Friday. Not only did the Brahmas sweep the Icerays in their last meeting, but Corpus Christi has lost seven in a row. Lone Star set only three points behind the Icerays in the NAHL South Division and with a sweep in regulation this weekend would vault over Corpus Christi standings.
Head to head this season, the Icerays seemed to have the Brahmas number early in the season, winning the first four games by a combined score of 18 – 4. However, all four of those games were played at the American Bank Center before the Brahmas started to turn things around a bit. Lone Star has played much better at home scoring an average of nearly half a goal more per game while allowing 1.28 fewer goals per game. The improved play has resulted in a 12 – 11 – 1 home record versus a 6 – 19 – 2 road record. Corpus Christi’s home and away records mirror the Brahmas very closely.
Matt Lison 2G – 1A is the only Lone Star player with multiple goals against the Icerays. Alexey Solovyev 1G – 2A and Anthony Mousseau 0G – 3A are the only other player with at least three points in the season series. TJ Black has a 2 – 2 – 0 record against the Icerays with a 2.00 GAA and a .925 SV%. Maurin Bouvet 2G – 5A leads Corpus Christi active players against the Brahmas with Tony Roisum 1G – 4A next in line. Three of the top five scoring Icerays against the Brahmas this season are no longer on the roster. Ben Myers and Forbes Ploszaj both have two wins against the Brahmas with a combined 1.67 GAA and a .926 SV%.
The Brahmas were at home for a split against the Topeka Road Runners last weekend. In game one Lone Star was shutout 3 – 0 by Topeka, but he game was much closer that the score indicated. The third goal came with an empty net. Jett Salinas made 32 saves in the loss. In the second game, the Brahmas got up by one on a goal from Conner Enciso (Kellen Wasell) at 1:10 of the first. Topeka was able to pull even, scoring with just over four minutes to go in the period on the power play. Thomas Aldworth (Wasell, Austin Thielgas) potted a power play goal midway through the second that turned out to be the game winner. Black was spectacular the rest of the way making 30 saves in the 2 – 1 win.
Corpus Christi was swept by the Amarillo Bulls on home ice losing by scores of 3 – 0 and 6 – 1. Myers took the loss in game one allowing the three goals on 38 shots faced. The Icerays lone goal in the series came on the power play during the first period of game two. Wes Michaud was credited with the goal. Ploszaj got the start between the pipes getting the hook early in the second after allowing four goals on 14 shots. Myers played the last 35 minutes stopping 16 of 18 shots.
| Last 5 Games | W |
L
OTL
Pts
Brahmas
2
3
0
4
Icerays
0
4
1
1
Special Teams
Corpus Christi has really taken advantage of the Brahmas lackluster special teams play this season. Their penalty kill has held the Brahmas to two goals on 31 chances. On the other hand, they have nine goals on the power play this season on 33 opportunities. However, six of those nine power play goals came from skaters no longer on the Icerays roster.
The Brahmas’ home power play is ranked 14th in the league at 14.2% scoring 16 goals on 113 power plays. The Icerays’ road penalty kill is running at 85.7% good for ninth in the league. They have allowed 16 goals on 112 kills.
Lone Star has been successful on 75 of 90 penalty kills at home or 82.4% which is 19th in the league. They will be facing an Icerays road power play that ranks 23rd scoring nine goals on 115 power plays for a 7.8% efficiency.
Goaltending Comparison Last 5 Games
W |
L
OTL
SO
GA
GAA
SV
SV%
Brahmas
2
3
0
1
18
3.60
161
.899
Icerays
0
4
1
0
24
4.80
147
.860
Who is Hot (Last 5 Games)
| Brahmas | G |
A
Pts
2
0
2
0
2
2
Matt Lison
0
2
2
Kellen Wasell
0
2
2
Two tied at
1
0
1
IceraysG
A
Pts
3
3
6
0
5
5
Maurin Bouvet
1
2
3
2
0
2
0
2
2
Inside The Game
Alex Dagnal is fourth in the league with 129 penalty minutes. The Icerays have been the recipient of 102 of those minutes.
Corpus Christi is leading the league in penalty minutes at 1,221. Their 53 major penalties also lead the league by a wide margin, 12 more than their nearest competitor. They have four players Caleb O’Brien 121 PIM, Lucas McDiarmid 113 PIM, Jesse Shelton 107 PIM and Lucas Bennett 101 PIM who are in the top 25 in the league.
Anthony Mousseau’s 11 power play assists is tied for seventh in the league. He also has scored two power play goals for 13 points on the man advantage. Astounding statistics considering that the Brahmas have scored only 22 power play goals all season.
The Brahmas actually have two more wins this season than do the Icerays. Where Corpus Christi has the advantage over the Brahmas is in Overtime Losses. They have 10 compared to three for Lone Star.
Corpus Christi has yet to win a game that has gone beyond regulation. They are 0 – 4 in overtime and 0 – 6 in shootouts. The Brahmas have been much stronger in those categories, going 2 – 1 in overtime and 6 – 2 in shootouts.
The Brahmas are 12 – 2 – 3 in one goal games. The Icerays are only 5 – 5 – 10 in one goal games.
Alexey Solovyev and the Icerays’ Kyle Froese are tied for tenth in the league in goals scored by a defenseman with six each.
TJ Black is 24th in the league with a 2.50 GAA and a .913 SV%. His 3 shutouts are tied for ninth.
The players brought in by the Brahmas at the trade deadline; Roman Uchyn, Hogan Davidson, Thomas Aldworth and Jeremy Briscoe have accounted for eight points on 3G – 5A over the six games.
February has been the best month of the season for the brahmas with a .571 winning percentage for the month. A major part of the success has been due to the improved play of the penalty kill and fewer penalty minutes. The Brahmas have averaged 19.29 penalty minutes per game in the month the second best month of the season. They have allowed only 2 power play goals on 31 penalty kills for 93.55%.