Another Friday Off

The Bucks (9-4-0, 18 points) have tonight off following last night's 4-2 win over the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (6-2-2, 14) and didn't even practice this morning due to the Cirque de Soleil show at the LEC tonight. Assuming the turnover goes smoothly, they'll be back on the ice for a morning skate tomorrow, then for a game against the Amarillo Gorillas (4-9-0, eight) at 7:30 p.m.

Last night's game was another show of strength by the Bucks, and it looks like the Erick Lizon-Ryan Shmyr fights are something everyone should get used to seeing. In spite of the physicality displayed by his team at the start and in scuffles throughout the game, Coach Ruskowski said he's still not quite satisfied with their checking.

Here is my story about the game that ran in today's Times. For the record, when there is no captain on a team, the "A" guys are not assistants. Chris Brooks chose not to name a captain, so the Bees have three associates/alternates/whatever you want to call them...but not assistants. Well, technically, "associate" is really the correct term. But apparently some people disagree with that.

The Bees are back on the ice tonight as they face off against the Odessa Jackalopes (7-5-1, 15), who have yet to win at home. The Texas Brahmas (7-3-1, 15) will also be in action with an opportunity to pull within one point of the Bucks in the division standings against the Wichita Thunder.

Other games tonight pit the Mississippi RiverKings against the Tulsa Oilers, the Rapid City Rush against the Colorado Eagles, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs against the Rocky Mountain Rage abd the Arizona Sundogs against the New Mexico Scorpions.

In the NHL, the New York Islanders are at the New Jersey Devils, the Florida Panthers are at the Boston Bruins, the Phoenix Coyotes are at the Carolina Hurricanes, the Philadelphia Flyers are at the Buffalo Sabres, the Nashville Predators are at the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Anaheim Ducks are at the St. Louis Blues.

Speaking of the NHL, someone got my request and YouTubed that Sidney Crosby goal from last night. Pretty sweet.



In other NHL news, Brenden Morrow is out for up to six months with an ACL injury. That makes the March 1 game between the Pens and the Stars a little less appealing, at least from an excitement standpoint.

And, by the way, Morrow's former QMJHL teammate Marty Standish is now officially an IHL player.

CHL Scores: Brahmas 4, Thunder 2; Killer Bees 5, Jackalopes 4 (OT); RiverKings 6, Oilers 4; Mudbugs 5, Rage 2; Eagles 8, Rush 2; Scorpions 7, Sundogs 5.

NHL Scores: Devils 5, Islanders 2; Hurricanes 5, Coyotes 2; Bruins 4, Panthers 2; Lightning 4, Predators 1; Flyers 3, Sabres 0; Blues 3, Ducks 2 (OT).