Starters: Bucks - Jeff Bes (F), Sebastien Centomo (G), Alex Goupil (F), Jaye Judd (D), Adam Rivet (D), Darryl Smith (F); IceRays - Curtis Huppe (F), Justin Quenneville (F), Bob Rapoza (D), Matt Smyth (D), Kris Tebbs (G), Mike Zbriger (F).
First Period: Rookie defenseman Mike Gooch is tonight's scratch for the Bucks. ... I figured Coach Ruskowski starting the top line sans Rick Kozak was a statement to Kozak more than anything else, but looks like he made one to the IceRays, too. Goupil scored just 25 seconds into the game on his own rebound. It was actually his third consecutive shot, as he hit the post, then hit Tebbs' pads, then was able to wrist it into the net over Tebbs' sprawled-out frame. Bucks lead 1-0. ... I guess all the lines are getting shaken up, as Igor Agarunov-Jason Dixon-Matt Miller has just taken the ice. ... Smith and Bes had assists on Goupil's goal, which brings Bes to 499 career CHL points. Tonight could be a big night for him. ... The IceRays just got their first shot off at 3:05 in the period. Bucks have taken four. ... As you could probably guess, tonight's crowd displays a major dropoff from last night's. Worse than I expected, actually. But I guess people are probably still on their way. ... The third line is Kozak-Ryan Salvis-Bobby Russell, by the way. ... Ryan James Hand just turned the puck over right in front of the Bucks' net, and Serge Dube's attempt to clear it was unsuccessful, but Centomo made the save and the IceRays were unable to grab the rebound. Pretty big chance for them there. ... Apparently equipment manager Matt Brayfield saw what I wrote on my blog last night about him always wearing all black and decided to sport some khakis today instead. ... Bucks just had a pretty lengthy 6-on-5 possession due to a delayed penalty call but didn't really do anything with it. Jeff Grant is headed to the box for interference to give the Bucks the first power play of the game 6:45 into the period. ... The closest the Bucks have gotten so far was a shot from Devin Featherstone that hit a post, but they've kept Tebbs busy. They'll now have a 26-second 5-on-3 with a slashing penalty on Quenneville. ... Just FYI, that goal was Goupil's 15th of the season but first since Dec. 19. ... The IceRays just turned the puck over in the crease, but Tebbs jumped out to cover the puck and stop play with a bit over five minutes to go in this period. ... Okay, it's Bes' night for sure, as Smith just scored on a rebound of a shot by Bes, thus bringing him to 500 points on his career. Tebbs seems to have the MAF thing as far as refusing to hold onto pucks, and that has given the Bucks some good chances. Bes has 323 assists and 177 goals in his CHL career, all with the Bucks, to bring him to that 500 mark. Congrats to Bes on that accomplishment, which I believe means he is four shy of 900 points in his entire career. ... Oddly, Bryan Benway mentioned that about two seconds after I posted it, and yes, Bes is four away from 900. ... A shot from Zbriger just deflected and hit the post, but now the IceRays will get their first power play of the night with just over six seconds in the period. ... Yeesh, that was an eventful six seconds. Centomo held the IceRays off on their initial surge, then Adam Powell got called for a delay of game on the ensuing faceoff, so almost the first two minutes of the second will be 4-on-4. Bucks have only outshot the IceRays 13-12 so far but lead 2-0.
Second Period: Not long after their six-second power play expired, the Bucks had a pretty textbook breakout opportunity, and I have to admit I kinda thought they'd screw it up. They did not, though, as some crisp passes and a nice shot from Kozak resulted in the Bucks' third goal, over Tebbs' left shoulder to the top shelf. Salvis was on the play with Kozak up the ice and gets the lone assist. Bucks lead 3-0. ... Hand just fought Mark Tobin, who as you may remember is a former teammate and friend of Sidney Crosby. They each landed a couple punches, nothing major, then Hand wrestled him to the ice. Nothing too spectacular, but not awful for Hand in his first fight since coming off the IR against a guy with two inches and 21 pounds on him. Let's hope he didn't break anything this time. ... Alright, a couple minutes later, Erick Lizon and Powell decided to join their teammates in the box by going at it in the Bucks' defensive zone. That was a pretty sloppy tussle, but the crowd doesn't seem to mind. Powell somehow managed to kind of flip Lizon over as he was slipping and make him hit the ice first. Weird one for sure. I guess the "enforcers" are trying to prove themselves to Ruskowski before the trade wheels start turning too fast for them to stop anything. ... Quenneville just had a decent chance with no Bucks directly on him right in front of the crease, but Centomo poke-checked it away to keep the IceRays off the board. Seems Centomo's stick was broken on the play. ... Nicolas Bachand just threw Russell into one of the officials and earned himself an interference call. The Bucks are going on their third power play of the game 8:20 into this second period. ... Make that 501 for Bes, as he just flipped another one of the "juicy rebounds" that Tebbs has allowed over the goalie's left shoulder. Serge Dube took the initial shot and will get the primary assist, while Goupil has the second. Hopefully this thing finishes early enough that I can talk to Bes for my story. ... Jeremy Leroux just rushed in for a good chance on Centomo, but he casually gloved the shot for his 16th save of the game. He's looking much sharper tonight than he did in the second and third periods last night. ... Well, add another to the lame fight tally for tonight as Jonathan Trottier went after Kozak on Kozak's first shift following a massive hit on Tobin. It looked like Kozak's leg almost got twisted off as they fell to the ice, but not much to report on it other than that and the fact that Kozak looks a little bewildered in the box right now. ... The cameras panned to Ruskowski behind the bench after that fracas, for which Trottier got an instigator penalty to put the Bucks on their fifth power play. He also got a "10-minute game misconduct," according to the PA announcer. Not sure which it actually was because with only 9:03 left in the period, he'd be headed off the ice either way. ... Bucks get a 22-second 5-on-3, then 1:36 more on the advantage now as Smyth has been called for tripping Bes. ... They didn't do anything with that one, so they are now 1-for-6 on the power play tonight. Bes' goal was the only score on the advantage. ... Centomo probably hasn't actually made the 21 saves he's being credited with, but the ones he's made have been quite impressive. ... Bucks lead 4-0 heading into the second intermission. Everyone fear for your lives if they manage to blow this. ... Take note of the Killer Bees-Mudbugs score.
Third Period: Agarunov, Bennett, Quenneville and Weidlich were all exchanging words following the first whistle of the period, a puck out of play, but no more rumbles. Yet. ... Apparently the players don't want me to have time to talk to Bes because they are dragging this thing out forever. Hand and Powell just fought another lame one behind the play to garner the second whistle of the period. ... Reynolds is being sent to the box to serve a too-many-men minor to give the Bucks their seventh power play 3:03 into the period. ... Agarunov negated that with a tripping call to make things 4-on-4 again for a while here. ... Well, the Bucks can thank Matt Summers for giving them a chance to pull two points closer to the Texas Brahmas in the standings tonight as Summers scored two goals in the Mississippi RiverKings' 4-1 win over the Brahmas. Oh, and Kevin Beech had 22 saves and two assists, so I guess they can thank him, too. ... On the IceRays' seventh shot of the period and possibly bajillionth in a 20-second span, they have finally broken through. Bachand scored it, Zbriger and Huppe get the assists. That was the most anticlimactic goal possibly ever. Oh, right, they were on a power play due to a hooking call on Weidlich. Penalty began 6:13 in, goal was scored at 7:20. Bucks lead 4-1 but have been outshot at least 7-1 so far this period. ... Salvis just had a good chance with Goupil trailing but chose to bring the puck behind Tebbs' net, then Rapoza chose to fly into it and stop play. ... Weidlich has taken another penalty, this one for high-sticking at 10:58, to put the IceRays on their second legitimate power play of the game. ... With only 43 seconds left in the game, the players have decided to declare all-out war on each other, which resulted in plenty of pushing and shoving, a Weidlich attack on Tobin and a sucker punch from Tobin square in Featherstone's face. I'm going to have to clear up these penalties later.
Game Over: Bucks win 4-1, improve to 20-10-4 (44 points) and move to within three points of the Brahmas (22-10-3, 47 pts.). IceRays fall to 13-17-4 (30 pts.) after a rough week in which they scored only four goals on 109 shots. Thanks to Josh Bogorad for that not-so-fun fact. I'll post more about Bes' milestone at a later date, but as you could probably guess, he was very humble about reaching that mark.
Other Scores: Scorpions 6,Gorillas 2; RiverKings 4, Brahmas 1; Blazers 5, Oilers 4 (OT); Killer Bees 7, Mudbugs 1; Eagles 6, Rage 5; Thunder 4, Rush 1; Jackalopes 5, Sundogs 3.
NHL Scores: Panthers 8, Thrashers 4; Bruins 5, Hurricanes 1; Avalanche 5, Penguins 3; Red Wings 3, Sabres 1; Blue Jackets 4, Wild 2; Rangers 2, Senators 0; Canadiens 5, Capitals 4; Flyers 3, Maple Leafs 1; Predators 4, Blackhawks 1; Coyotes 1, Stars 0 (SO); Sharks 4, Canucks 2; Devils 5, Kings 1.
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