First Period: Oh, right. Erick Lizon is serving a much-deserved suspension that is surprisingly only one game. Because of that, Serge Dube will be a forward tonight. ... Pretty good pace so far. Russell just had a good chance as Jaeger got caught out of his net but missed wide. ... Jeff Bes has been called for interference at 3:48 in the period to put the Brahmas on the game's first power play. This could be a big one. ... Bucks killed that, then got a power play of their own on a hooking call against Marc Belanger. Almost exactly a minute later, Matt Burto got called for interference. It's time for some 5-on-3. ... Nothing doing on those three minutes of advantages. Coach Ruskowski hates it when they don't shoot during their power plays, so he couldn't have liked that showing. ... Jaeger is skating around in front of his net bored, reminding me of Julie "The Cat" Gaffney during the Mighty Ducks' first game at Eaton Hall. Sorry, random. But Centomo has certainly been the busier netminder so far. ... Kinnunen has just been sent to the box for interference...and just as I was about to type the Brahmas should be concerned on the PK without their D-man extraordinaire, Miller scored. Bucks lead 1-0 on his goal, which came at exactly the halfway point of the period. Miller slammed a rebound from a slap shot by Featherstone past Jaeger for the goal. Actually, Agarunov may have tipped the slap shot before it bounced off Jaeger. But for now, that's how it stands. Definitely a huge goal, and that was only the Bucks' third shot of the game. ... Jason Dixon was just taken down on what most people here seemed to think was deserving of a hooking call (can't say I disagree), but the whistle by Tom Steinel resulted in nothing more than a faceoff. ... Well, Kinnunen just atoned for his penalty by knotting this up with a pretty lovely goal over Centomo's left shoulder just 1:39 after Miller scored. Pete Rouleau and Scott Sheppard had the assists. ... Now the Bucks will go back on the power play with Jordan Cameron headed to the box for tripping. ... Wow. Kinnunen is incredible. I have to admit, I'd been building him up in my mind heading into this game, and he is not disappointing in the least. The Brahmas now lead 2-1 on his shorthanded, unassisted goal at 13:05 in the period. Bucks will stay on the power play; let's see if they can do anything with it. ... Nothing doing on the power play, but the Bucks did get a flurry of chances once it ended. Okay, nothing doing on that, either. ... Just to clarify, the three lines tonight are Bes-Dixon-Dube, Agarunov-Russell-Miller and Rick Kozak-Ryan Salvis-Alex Goupil. Kinda weird, eh? ... Miller seems to have Pittsburgh Penguins syndrome. Though he did score that first goal, he's had three or so wide open chances since then and missed. ... The Bucks ended the period on a power play created by a cross-checking call on Jacobsen but couldn't tie it up, so the Brahmas head into the intermission with that 2-1 lead. I'm guessing the No. 1 thought in Ruskowski's mind right now is that he wishes Kinnunen were on his team. That guy is good. ... Brahmas are up 10-8 on shots and have held the Bucks to 1-for-5 on the power play and scored a goal of their own while a man down. Ruskowski mentioned them being disciplined as one of their strengths, but seems like it doesn't hurt them too much when they aren't.
Second Period: Outside the LEC, Darryl Smith is in his third game with the Houston Aeros. They're playing the Baby Pens tonight, so I'm going to have to root against Darryl this time. ... Rookie defenseman Ryan James Hand just took the first penalty of the period, a hooking call at 2:01, to put the Brahmas on their second power play of the night. ... Russell made a good effort to get a shorthanded scoring chance, but Jaeger gloved his shot. ... Bucks killed that, then Bes just had a decent chance from Jaeger's left side on the goal line but hit the post. ... Jacobsen has been called for hooking to give the Bucks their first power play of the period. Faceoff to Jaeger's left (glove), and Ruskowski has the Russell line out there to start this one. ... Beautiful behind-the-back centering pass by Kevin McLeod nearly gave the Brahmas a chance to shorthandedly add to their lead, but Centomo dived out to cover the puck up and keep that under control. ... Brahmas are getting their third power play of the game with 5:46 to play in the period, as Bes was called for hooking right in front of the Bucks' net. ... Well, that didn't last long. Minard hooked Salvis 15 seconds after the Brahmas' advantage began to make it 4-0n-4 for the next 1:45. ... Centomo just denied Kinnunen the hat trick in rather impressive fashion, then knocked away Sheppard's shot off the rebound, then stopped the next shot. In other words, the Bucks didn't do a great job of clearing the puck. But those were some great saves. ... The Brahmas will either lead 3-1 into the intermission or start the third on a power play as Jaye Judd was called for interference with 26.9 to play in the period. ... Well, it'll be the latter, but they still lead 2-1 at the end of two. Shots read 20-18 in their favor right now, but hopefully a few will get added to that total as it hasn't been updated in about five minutes. ... Regardless of the outcome of the game, it's always nice to open GameCenter and see, "P. Manning pass deep left to R. Wayne for 72 yards. TOUCHDOWN." Pretend I never said that. ... Wow, someone just won the "Shoot for Gas" thing again. That's at least the second time this season, and I don't think I saw anyone win it at all last season. Or maybe I just wasn't paying attention.
Third Period: Bucks will start this one a man down, as the Brahmas have 1:33 left on their power play. ... I guess the Bucks have decided they like killing penalties, because an interference call against Hand has put the Brahmas right back on the power play early here in the third. ... Well, that was the one the Brahmas finally capitalized on as Cameron has scored on an assist from Nathan Saunders. Brahmas lead 3-1 with 16:44 to play. ... Salvis has been called for high sticking at 5:07 in the period to put the Brahmas back on the advantage. ... Well, Kinnunen has his hat trick, and the Brahmas lead 4-1 with 13;40 to play. Ruskowski isn't talking to his players during the official timeout, so that's not a good sign. Apparently showing former and suspended Bucks on the Beso Cam is the LEC's best idea for keeping fans' minds off the score. ... Hand just tried to pick a fight with Saunders, but the latter didn't want any part of that, so Hand's headed to the box for roughing. And holding, apparently. Fun times. ... Just a few minutes after the Brahmas' trainer had to ttend to Jaeger, Cameron is being dragged off the ice. I'm sure the Brahmas aren't thrilled to see their star forward and the CHL Player of the Month for December in that situation, but I think he should be fine. ... There's a lot of shoving going on now, but at least that makes more sense than going after guys from behind with a 7-2 lead.
Game Over: Brahmas win 4-1, improve to 20-9-3 (43 points) and take over first place in the Southeast Division. Bucks fall to 19-9-3 (41 pts.) and second place. I think I'll give Ruskowski a minute before I head downstairs. ... Seems a minute wasn't enough, as we was yelling in the room for about 30. ... Today was pretty awful for fans of my sports teams, ugh.
Other Scores: Sundogs 3, Mudbugs 1; RiverKings 2, Blazers 1; Thunder 7, Eagles 2; IceRays 2, Jackalopes 1 (SO); Oilers 3, Rush 2; Rage 4, Gorillas 1; Scorpions 3, Killer Bees 2 (OT).
NHL Scores: Panthers 6, Penguins 1; Sabres 4, Bruins 2; Flames 3, Predators 2; Capitals 2, Rangers 1; Maple Leafs 3, Senators 1; Hurricanes 3, Lightning 2; Red Wings 3, Wild 2 (SO); Blues 5, Blue Jackets 2; Oilers 4, Stars 1; Sharks 5, Islanders 3; Kings 2, Flyers 1 (SO).
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