Game No. 22 - Bucks at IceRays

Okay, it seems they have finagled me an internet connection, after all. Many thanks to IceRays Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting Josh Bogorad.

I'm not sure how much I'll be able to update or if I'm getting starting lineups or what, but I'll try my best. Oh, and here is my story from last night's win over the New Mexico Scorpions.

Starters: Bucks - Jason Dixon (F), Devin Featherstone (D), Ryan Gibb (G), Mike Gooch (D), Alex Goupil (F), Erick Lizon (F); ; IceRays - John Adams (D); Justin Quenneville (F); T.J. Reynolds (D); Patrick Steinmayr (F); Dustin Traylen (G); Mike Zbriger (F).

First Period: I was wondering why Lizon was starting on that line, but it seems to be because Igor Agarunov will be playing on defense tonight. Joey Olson is the other winger on the Bobby Russell-Ryan Salvis line. ... The Bucks have only taken one shot nearly four minutes in but just got their first power play of the game on a hooking call against Adam Powell. ... Jonathan Trottier just stole the puck and broke away for the first clean chance of the game but prematurely flipped the puck right into Gibb's chest. IceRays are leading 7-5 on shots about nine minutes into the contest. ... Okay, more like 8:31, and right as I typed that, Darryl Smith got sent to the penalty box for hooking. IceRays' first power play. ... Gooch just drew a hooking call against Steinmayr to give the Bucks their second power play of the game at11:36 in the period. I'm not too sure I agreed with that call, and the crowd certainly didn't, but it happens. ... This has been very back-and-forth so far, including with the penalties. Dixon has gone to box for holding at 15:48 in the period to give the IceRays' their second advantage. ... It seems no one can stop talking about Mark Tobin, the IceRays' winger who played in juniors with Sidney Crosby, and now it turns out he is signing autographs after the game. Oy. ... The top line just got into the first shoving match of the game, and Rick Kozak wasn't even on the ice. Ryan Bennett got sent to the box for roughing as a result, and with only 22 seconds left in the first period, the Bucks will start the second period with 1:38 of a power play. End of the period, no score. Gibb is kicking butt so far; IceRays lead 14-10 on shots.

Second Period: Okay, apparently the Bucks start the period witht 1:39 of a power play. Let's see what they can do. ... I'm so used to see the Bucks in their home white sweaters that I just now realized they shouldn't be wearing them here this early in the season. Guess they had to because of the IceRay's red apparel choice? ... There was just quite a scene in front of the Bucks' net as the IceRays refused to give up on their rebounds to the extent that they nearly injured Gibb. Ryan James Hand, in only his second game, saw his goalie stickless and handed him his own to take care of that. Not sure how well that would have worked out, but the net came off the posts soon thereafter to end that situation. The IceRays lead 23-13 on shots now. I can't stop grinning, though, because Petr Sykora just had his first career hat trick, set up by Sid's third assist of the night. They needed this for sure. ... I have to say, something seems off about the Bucks tonight. They just aren't clicking, and the neutral zone turnovers are killing both teams here tonight. At this point, about eight minutes into the second, Gibb has saved 25 shots and Traylen 13. Though Traylen's number is much lower, some of his saves have been impressive, too. The way this place is laid out requires me to almost stand up to see Coach Ruskowski, but I have a feeling he's not thrilled his team is being outshot this badly against a team he wanted to see them keep the puck away from because of how strong he knows their offense can be. ... Adam Rivet has been called for slashing, which will probably only lead to more IceRays' chances on offense. This is their third power play of the game. ... They had three shots but no goals on that one, but just 40 seconds after Rivet left the box, Agarunov went in for elbowing...and 17 seconds later, Chris Richards netted the first goal of the game as he sent the puck over Gibb's shoulder. Powell and Bennett had the assists on the power play score, the IceRay's 31st of the season. Gibb fell to the ground after the play, which came on the 30th shot of the game, and looked quite defeated. I'd imagine that can't feel very good. But hey, at least he's not Joey MacDonald. ... It's funny that Goupil told me last night that the refs are calling more penalties this year, making the power play all the more important, then the Bucks allow an IceRays' power-play goal and promptly give them another chance. Smith is in the box for hooking again. The Bucks have yet to get a power play this period. ... I'm so used to getting lineup sheets that when I don't I forget to mention who isn't playing on a given night. Tonight, the Bucks are without captain Serge Dube once again, and it seems rookie D-man Jaye Judd has also been sidelined, hence Agarunov being on defense. I'll have to see what's up with him after the game. ... IceRays are going back on the power play, as Hand has been sent to the box for hooking. ... The last thing a team missing defensemen needs is to lose more, but it looks like that may be the case for the Bucks. Gooch is writhing in pain on the ice after blocking a shot with his body. He needed to be picked up by two of his teammates to get back on his feet. I guess this is as good a time as any to mention that Jeremy Leroux left the ice earlier in the period, but not for anywhere near as visible a reason. ... Heading into the second intermission, the IceRays lead 1-0. All you need to know about that period is that the Bucks were outshot 22-5. No, I'm not joking. Yikes. ... Just in case you were wondering, because I know I was, the last time the Bucks were held scoreless through the first two periods was in their 2-1 win over the Wichita Thunder on Nov. 14, in which they scored two 3rd-period goals.

Third Period: Gooch is back out on the ice, so I guess he's going to tough it out through whatever bruising he experienced blocking that shot. ... Bryan Benway and I had checked during the intermission when the last time the Bucks were shut out in the regular season was (Jan. 20 by the IceRays in Laredo, by the way), but I guess that stat will not matter. The Bucks were playing "too cute" as Ruskowski (and Michel Therrien) call it, but Olson and Salvis decided to get down and dirty with it, and their work paid off as Salvis pushed a rebound past Traylen for his third goal in two nights. Olson got the assist. ... And now Pascal Dupuis has a hat trick. also his first in the NHL. Of course, all this happens in a game I don't get to watch, haha. ... Two penalties were just handed out after another scuffle around a net (this time the IceRays'), as Reynolds and Salvis got matching roughing calls. ... Zbriger has now been called for hooking, giving the Bucks' a 4-on-3 power play for 1:28. ... Geeze, now Matt Smyth is in for slashing. The sight of three players in the box with the attendant is quite hilarious. ... Featherstone has been called for tripping with 5:45 to play to give the IceRays another power play. The Bucks didn't do anything with all of their advantages, by the way. ... Somehow Russell has more energy at this point than any of the younger guys. It's worth noting that the Bucks have outshot the IceRays 17-8 in the first 18 minutes of this period. ... Apparently the IceRays equate their fans to apes because they just showed scenes from Planet of the Apes while playing "We Will Rock You" and attempting to get the fans to cheer. ... This one is headed to OT. Quenneville had a breakaway with about two seconds to play but didn't have time to get a good shot off. Interestingly, Ruskowski had Russell, Salvis and Smith out as his forwards for the Bucks' last rush. IceRays lead 45-32 on shots. Time for some 4-on-4.

Overtime: The Bucks look pretty sluggish for a team that got to coast through its third period last night then rest before a short bus ride today. They haven't managed a shot in the first two minutes of the OT, while the IceRays have taken two. ... Goupil slapped one in from the point for the Bucks' first shot of the period, but no dice. One minute and 20 seconds to play in OT. ... Bes just netted one on an assist from Smith, but the ref called it a no-goal, and Bes skated over to him faster than I think I've ever seen Bes skate before. A fan instantly tried to pick a fight with Ruskowski, who bit on it more than he probably should. That fan was scolded by another fan before being removed from the game, but he might want to watch his back for like ever. Greg Rajan has observed that the back of Ruskowski's suit jacket is wet, so we're guessing the guy dumped some kind of beverage on him. Yikes, is he mad. And we're still a bit lost as to why that wasn't a goal. ... Uhhh, Rivet just got called for a 10-minute misconduct. I guess these guys get angry when they aren't winning, sheesh. He's out for the final 40 seconds of the game. ... And now it is time for my first shootout of the season. I knew I was going to jinx Smith with my plans to do a feature on him tomorrow for Saturday's paper. This is his first game in nearly a month without a point.

Shootout: Brief pause to allow the IceRays' equipment manager to tie Traylen's skate laces. ... IceRays will shoot first, with Bennett getting the call. ... Gibb committed too early, and Bennett was able to poke the puck around Gibb's right leg pad. ... Dixon is up first for the Bucks. ... He faked himself out and tapped it right into Traylen's pads. IceRays up 1-0. ... Zbriger was next and easily flipped it up over Gibb's left shoulder. I guess making 47 saves in the rest of the game got to him. ... Smith was next for the Bucks and continued to be jinxed, also hitting the puck right into Traylen's pads. ... Richards was next for the IceRays and kind of lost himself and the puck. ... Bes couldn't do it for the Bucks, so now it's all on the Q. ... Quenneville has just won it and broken the Bucks' win streak.

Game Over: IceRays win 2-1 in the shootout. ... Ruskowski was mad, but not really as grumpy as I'd expected. Sylvain Cloutier was understandably happy with his team's effort and when asked how he chose his team's shooters for the shootout, he said he asked backup goalie Kris Tebbs to pick them. I think that's a pretty fun fact, though it didn't really have a place in my story. Time to trek on back to Laredo...

NHL Scores: Lightning 3, Canadiens 1; Blue Jackets 2, Predators 1 (SO); Flyers 6, Hurricanes 5 (SO); Penguins 9, Islanders 2; Panthers 2, Oilers 0; Coyotes 3, Wild 1; Sharks 2, Ducks 0; Kings 6, Blues 2.