Game No. 6 - Bucks vs. IceRays

Starters: Bucks - Sebastien Centomo (G), Rick Kozak (F), Joey Olson (F), Ryan Penney (F), Adam Rivet (D), Vincent Zaore-Vanie (D); IceRays - Adam Powell (F), Bob Rapoza (D), T.J. Reynolds (D), Kris Tebbs (G), Mark Tobin (F), Mike Zbriger (F).

First Period: Well, that was fast. IceRays lead 1-0 just 22 seconds into the game on the team's second shot. Zbriger scored it, and Mark Tobin had the assist, also known as the first shot. ... Bucks have committed the game's first penalty, with Olson being called for high sticking 3:37 in. ... Darryl Smith has tied it up at 5:41 with his fourth goal of the season, first since the season opener. He scored exactly as Olson was coming out of the box. Jeff Bes on the assist. ... Somehow the scoreboard says the IceRays have taken three shots, and the Bucks have taken one. I'd say 6-2. But who knows. ... Things are getting feisty already, with Mike Gooch doing the majority of the shoving on the Bucks' end. ... Looks like the Igor Agarunov, Jason Dixon, Alex Goupil line is back together, but the other two are getting mixed up, even if unintentionally. ... The Bucks are on the penalty kill again, as Steve Weidlich has committed the team's second high-sticking minor of the game. ... Greg Rajan just pointed out that the Eagles lead the Mudbugs 2-0, having scored twice in the first 2:30 of the game. Yikes. ... IceRays lead 2-1, on a goal that will go to Justin Quenneville but was deflected off of a Bucks player in front of the net. The score came on an assist from John McNabb with just two seconds left in the IceRays' power play. ... Scoreboard says the IceRays have only taken five shots, but that is atrociously untrue. At this rate, Centomo might not get credit for at least 100 saves this season. ... Bucks have a power play of their own now, as Chris Shaffer was called for hooking. ... And they are now 4-for-41 on advantages this season. ... Bucks still trail 2-1, but lead 3-1 in the penalty column as Rivet has been called for hooking. ... And now Zaore-Vanie is in the box for charging. Centomo would never say it, but he can't appreciate the pressure put on him by the Bucks constantly being on the penalty kill. ... Rapoza has been called for interference after barreling through Bes just to Tebbs' left. It'll be a 4-on-4 for five seconds, then a Bucks' power play for the rest of the period, barring a goal or another penalty. ... Goupil has tied it up on a one-timer from just inside the blue line. Devin Featherstone will get the first assist (also the first of his career), while Weidlich had the second (first of his season). Back to even strength for the final 46.1 seconds of the period. ... End of the first, game is tied 2-2. Supposedly, the Bucks have outshot the IceRays 11-9. ... Just because I know Brian Sandalow is wondering, I will share that the IceRays' sweaters are indeed very busy. They kind of remind me of European teams' sweaters, just with logos and patches and stuff instead of advertisements. Okay, maybe some of them are advertisements; I'm not so great in the eyesight department. They aren't unpleasant to look at, though. ... Not sure if anyone cares, but Steven Stamkos (the first overall pick in this year's NHL draft) has finally gotten the first-goal monkey off his back, and provided some cuteness in the process. Sorry, I'm a sucker for goal celebrations. Stamkos also took care of the second and has three points as the Lightning lead the Sabres 5-1 at their second intermission.

Second Period: I'm starting to think Coach Ruskowski put the three new guys out together at the start of the game just to expose them to the crowd, because they haven't all been out together for a full shift since. ... Bucks lead 3-2 on a shorthanded goal. They'll be needing those if they keep committing penalties at this rate. Goupil had the goal on a nice feed from Jason Dixon. Goupil's injury, if you want to call it that, doesn't seem to be affecting his play very much. Oh, and Zaore-Vanie was (and still will be) in the box for hooking. ... The Bucks took care of that one, then Bobby Russell got called holding just four seconds later. Goupil nearly had another shorthanded goal during the last penalty kill but couldn't get past Tebbs after faking out his defenders. Tebbs just loves to leave the net, by the way. He was out past the blue line at one point in the first period, at even strength. ... And another penalty has been killed. I know the PK hasn't been 100 percent this season, or even in this game, but it certainly isn't looking bad. Goupil came close to another shortie on that one, too. ... The past few minutes have been pretty rife with madness, much moreso than the one before the third period will be, I'm sure. IceRays killed a penalty (Matt Smyth-hooking) very nicely, with the Bucks getting everywhere but in the net, including a Bes shot that hit the left post. But now the Bucks are going on a two-man advantage after a delayed call against Bennett for tripping and Nicolas Bachand for elbowing... Goupil has a hat trick, after scoring on a deflection from a shot by Dixon during the 5-0n-3. Adam Rivet gets the second assist. Amusing that the majority of the hats to hit the ice have been parts of people's Halloween costumes. I'm guessing Goupil's sweater will be one of the top sellers at the jersey auction tonight. Bucks lead 4-2 and will keep one power play for 1:26. ... An interference call against Bes has made it 4-on-4 for 34 seconds, then an IceRays' power play for 1:26. Weird. ... Score is 4-2 now, as a slap shot by T.J. Reynolds from just outside the blue line was deflected by Quenneville past Centomo. ... Russell has been called for hooking, his second penalty of the game. I'm starting to think ti's the guys who played in other leagues last year who are having the trouble adjusting to penalty calls. ... No matter, because Smith broke away from the pack around the Bucks' net and had no trouble scoring on a one-on-one with Tebbs. The unassisted goal was Smith's second of the night, fifth of the season. Bucks now have four special teams goals tonight, with two apiece on the power play and penalty kill. That should make Ruskowski fairly happy. ... The IceRays are going back on the power play, thanks to a stick holding penalty against Kozak, but first there seems to be a bit of a problem with the glass that needs to be addressed. No shattering or anything, just a plate lose or something of the like. There is 2:13 left in the period, time for a chicken dance. ... Heading into the second intermission with the same score. Good thing we have a high school football deadline tonight, because this game looks like it will go pretty late for a weekday. ... They are having a contest between periods in which participants run across the ice barefoot or in socks to fetch their shoes. As I sit in the press conference wearing two pairs of socks under my shoes and still feeling cold in the toes, I am in pain for these people. Brrr.

Third Period: The Bucks have scored 12 seconds into the final period, and we are not too sure who had the goal because of all the "madness" taking place. For now, the goal is going to Bes, with the assist going to Smith. They were both on the ice at the time, so that's fine by me. Bucks lead 6-3. ... McNabb has been called for hooking, giving the Bucks their sixth power play of the game. ... Just after McNabb came out, Reynolds got called for roughing, putting the Bucks on power play No. 7. .... Bucks will now get a 5-on-3 for 45 seconds, as Rapoza has been called for hooking. Regular power play for another 1:15 after that. ... Bucks couldn't capitalize on those advantages and are now back in the box themselves, with Olson being called for interference. And now Corpus Christi head coach Sylvain Cloutier has called the game's first time out. ... Now Weidlich has been sent to the box for high sticking double minor, which means the IceRays have a 5-on-3 for 1:47, then keep the power play for 2:13 after that. ... Seems all the Bucks' 5-on-3 practice has helped, as they killed that one, but let's see what they do with four men on the ice. ... Penalties on McNabb (holding) and (slashing) have given the Bucks another 5-on-3, at least for 48 seconds. ... Apparently the IceRays are trying to even up the penalty counts, as they have committed their 11th (Reynolds-cross checking), inching ever closer to the Bucks at 12. ... Make that 12 on the IceRays and 13 on the Bucks, as McNabb (cross checking) and Penney (diving) each just went to the box with 2:33 to play in the game. ... IceRays will be on the power play for the rest of the contest as Gooch got called for interference with 1:3o to play. ... Make that a 5-on-3 for the rest of the game, as Russell was called for interference with 17.5 seconds to go.

Game Over: Bucks win 6-3. I'm guessing Goupil will be the No. 1 star...

Three Stars: No. 1 Goupil, No. 2 Smith, No. 3 Bes (or Quenneville, depending on who you ask).

Notes: Whoever buys Penney's jersey tonight will get one with an misspelled name. ... That was Goupil's third career hat trick, first in the CHL (and thus first with the Bucks).

Other Scores: Gorillas 2, Brahmas 1 (F-OT); Eagles 3, Mudbugs 2 (F).

NHL: Lightning 5, Sabres 2 (F); Rangers 3, Thrashers 2 (F); Flyers 3, Islanders 2 (F-OT); Senators 2, Panthers 1 (F); Canadiens 2, Wild 1 (F); Predators 3, Oilers 1 (F); Hurricanes 1, Blues 0 (F); Blue Jackets 4, Avalanche 2 (F); Flames 3, Bruins 2 (F); Coyotes 4, Penguins 1 (F); Canucks 4, Kings 0 (F); Sharks 4, Red Wings 2 (F).