Game No. 36 - Bucks at Brahmas

This time I will start off by saying you can follow the game here because I'm not sure how often I'll get pulled away from it to do other work.

First Period: No. 18 is indeed out of the lineup, as are Jaye Judd and Ryan Salvis. Oh boy. ... I tried starting CHL TV about 15 minutes ago, and I still haven't acquired the Bucks' stream...possibly not a great sign. ... First penalty of the game went to Travis Banga for hooking. Bucks didn't score on the power play, but that doesn't necessarily mean they didn't move the puck well. I wouldn't have any way of knowing. ... Erick Lizon gave the Brahmas their first advantage of the game with a roughing call at 5:14. ... Okay, now I have video but no audio to be found. ... Scratch that, back to nothing. ... Ouch. The Brahmas scored with exactly one second remaining on Lizon's penalty box stay and right after my CHL TV feed cut out once again. Tyler Skworchinski knocked it home on what registered as just the second shot by the Brahmas on the night. Matt Hanson and Nathan Saunders got the assists. Sebastien Centomo and Brett Jaeger (fresh off a shutout last night) are tonight's goalies, by the way. ... I actually have audio and video right now, but the audio is so low that I have it on full volume with my earbuds in and can still barely hear. Le sigh. ... The Bucks just called for too many men on the ice to put the Brahmas back on the power play a little bit shy of four minutes after their goal. Rick Kozak is serving the penalty. ... Bobby Russell has been called for holding to put the Brahmas back on the advantage once again. .... Make that a 5-on-3, as Alex Goupil was called for a hook 32 seconds later. The tw0-man advantage will last 1:28. ... From the sound of all that, Centomo pretty much killed of the 5-on-3 himself. ... Steve Weidlich put the Brahmas back on the power play with a hooking call at 18:58 in the period, but the Bucks killed off the first 1:02 of that to keep the Brahmas' lead to 1-0 heading into the first intermission. Bucks have been outshot 9-5 so far. ... Okay, after having Nifty cut out about eight times during the intermission, I have quite a headache and am giving up on that for the evening.

First Period: The Bucks killed off the latter portion of that penalty to open the period, but we'll see how long they can stay out of the box considering they spent nearly half of the first period with someone in it. ... The Brahmas ended up committing the first penalty of the period, a too-many-men minor, at 1:56. Banga went to the box to serve it, but the Bucks didn't seem to do much on it. ... Brahmas get their first fresh advantage of the period now as Kozak has been called for a high stick at 4:31. ... Yeesh. Now they get another lengthy 5-on-3, courtesy of a slashing call on Serge Dube at 4:55. That gives the Brahmas 1:36 with the two-man advantage. ... You knew there was no way the Bucks could keep this team off the board if it kept getting power-play chances, and Grant Jacobsen just scored the Brahmas' second goal of the night during their second 5-on-3. Scott Sheppard and Jordan Cameron had the assists. Brahmas lead 2-0 and 15-8 in shots. Adding insult to injury, they'll still get the end of Dube's penalty because Kozak's had nine seconds left on it when they scored. ... Bucks got their third power play on the 10th call of the game at 13:48 in the period but couldn't break through, and appear to have not even taken a single shot on the advantage. ... Oh, that was a tripping call on Kevin McLeod, by the way. Greg McConnell took another one at 17:01 to put the Bucks back on the advantage with the end of the period quickly approaching. ... Bucks still haven't gotten on the board, but they have pulled the shot count to 17-15, much closer than the previous numbers, heading into the second intermission. They'll need to score at least twice and hold the Brahmas off the board in the third if they want to do anything with this one.

Third Period: Banga now has his third goal as a Brahma and the Brahmas' third of the game, as he knocked one past Centomo 3:34 in the period. It was the Brahmas' first 5-on-5 goal of the game and came on what is recorded as their 18th shot. Bucks have evened up the shot count, reaching 18 of their own, but have nothing to show for it. ... Bucks get the first power play of the final period, as Saunders has been called for slashing at 4:17. ... Jason Deitsch and Sheppard had the assists on Banga's goal. Deitsch was up in the AHL with the Houston Aeros for a little over a month before being sent back to the Brahmas earlier this week. That's his first point since returning. ... Just over 45 minutes into the game, the Bucks have finally gotten on the board, taking advantage of that power play as Adam Rivet netted his sixth goal of the season on assists from Goupil and Jeff Bes. Brahmas lead 3-1, but the Bucks have taken a 20-19 advantage on shots. ... That possible momentum shift was short-lived, as the Brahmas have taken a 4-1 lead on a goal by Marc Belanger just 48 seconds after Rivet's score. Matt Quinn had the primary, and currently only, assist. Shots are now even at 20. ... The wheels seem to be coming off, as Deitsch has scored his first goal since rejoining the Brahmas on assists from McLeod and Sheppard. Brahmas lead 5-1 with 9:42 left in the game and appear poised to add to their division lead. Bucks lead 25-23 on shots at this point. ... Make that score 6-1, as a tripping call on Ryan James Hand at 13:14 led to a power-play goal by McLeod 1t 14:06. Banga had the primary assist, his first helper with the Brahmas. Deitsch had the other. Centomo has allowed six goals on 28 shots, but I have no way of knowing how much of that can actually be blamed on him. Brahmas are 3-for-8 on the power play, while the Bucks are 1-for-6. ... Kozak has decided to take advantage of being back on the top line in Smith's absence, scoring on assists from Bes and Dube at 17:39 in the period. I'm guessing that might just be too little, too late.

Game Over: Brahmas win 6-3, improve to 24-10-3 (51 points) and add to their Southeast Division lead over the Bucks, who fall to 21-11-5 (47 pts.). Kozak was the only Buck with a positive plus/minus in the game at plus-1. Coach Ruskowski, Igor Agarunov, Jason Dixon, Devin Featherstone and Hand were all zeros. Sorry; I just can't help but be amused by the coaches' names being listed as players. Centomo saved 22 of the 28 shots he faced (78.6%), while Jaeger stopped 27 of 29 (93.1%). Bucks finished 1-for-6 on the power play; Brahmas were 3-for-8.

Other Scores: Blazers 4, Mudbugs 3 (SO); Oilers 3, RiverKings 2 (SO); Killer Bees 3, Gorillas 2; IceRays 5, Sundogs 2; Jackalopes 4, Rage 1; Scorpions 3, Rush 2; Eagles 2, Thunder 1.

NHL Scores: Stars 3, Kings 2 (SO); Capitals 2, Bruins 1; Sabres 3, Hurricanes 1; Devils 3, Islanders 1; Canadiens 5, Senators 4 (SO); Panthers 4, Lightning 3; Thrashers 7, Predators 2; Blackhawks 2, Blues 1 (OT); Ducks 3, Wild 0 ; Coyotes 4, Flames 3; Sharks 6, Red Wings 5.