Note: All-Star rookie center Darryl Smith is officially a scratch, as are defensemen Jaye Judd and Steve Weidlich.
First Period: As can be expected, the Bucks' bench looks a little empty right now. I wonder how many of the injured fellas will be making their way up to the press box to go on the radio with Bryan Benway tonight. Russell vs. Jacobsen on the opening faceoff. ... A fan sitting right in front of the press box just yelled, "I love you Darryl!" I guess she didn't get the memo. ... The Brahmas' shot counter appears to be out of order, but Gibb tipped away their first of the game, and Rivet sent the Bucks' first right into Jaeger's chest not much later. ... Okay, I guess it's in order, but the guys controlling it decided that first shot wasn't actually one. ... Brahmas are on the first power play of the game as Jason Dixon was called for hooking at 1:58 in this opening period. We'll see if the Bucks continue their tradition of killing their own penalty killers tonight. ... The Brahmas are the only team that hasn't given up a shorthanded goal this season, and Benway just did his best to jinx them by mentioning that fact during the power play. ... Gooch just got called for hooking with 32 seconds left on Dixon's penalty to give the Brahmas a 32-second 5-on-3 followed by 1:28 more on the advantage. ... Either the Bucks are playing like idiots or J.P. Sylvain hates them...I'm not quite sure which. Either way, Russell is headed to the box for slashing, giving the Brahmas another 70 seconds of 5-on-3 play and then 50 more seconds on an advantage. We are less than five minutes into the game, by the way. Yeesh. ... Some nice passing and a sharp shot from the far circle by Scott Sheppard has put the Brahmas on the board just 4:46 into the game. That registered as just their third shot, but give Gibb a little more credit than that. Jacobsen is getting the lone assist as of the current point in time, and the Brahmas will stay on the power play now for a little over a minute. ... Ryan Miller-Ryan Salvis-Erick Lizon is the third line in this game, and they look quite sloppy so far. Jeff Bes-Jason Dixon-Alex Goupil is the top line, by the way. ... The Brahmas' goals have been quite anticlimactic so far tonight, but Sheppard has just scored his second on a slap shot from the slot as he and Jason Deitsch crossed into the Bucks' zone. Deitsch has the lone assist on the score, and the Brahmas lead 2-0 at 11:56 in the period. ... How on earth did Jaeger's head just end up between Miller's legs? Not in a perverse way, but that is weird. Miller kind of flew into Jaeger, and it almost appeared as though he was trying to rip Jaeger's head off with his thighs. Jaeger is being attended to by the Brahmas' trainer, but he will stay in the game and there was no penalty called on the play. ... I just witnessed the sloppiest sequence of events I have ever seen in a hockey game, and both teams were involved. I don't even know how to describe that, but the Brahmas are lucky the Bucks were just as messy as they were because their lead should have been cut in half there. ... I wish my eyesight were better so I could figure out what the heck is on Jaeger's mask. I'll hae to do some research into that. ... The Bucks have had a few chances on rebounds but never seem to be in the right place at the right time. Bes just had a chance on a Goupil rebound but sent it wide. ... Bucks are getting their first power play with 2:51 left in the period as Deitsch has been called for roughing. ... Brahmas cleared the puck right off the faceoff, but the Bucks got it back in the zone and Kozak circled around with it then sent it to Agarunov, who slipped it past Jaeger. The goalie had no clue what was going on with all the bodies in front of him. Kozak currently has the lone assist. Brahmas lead 2-1, but that made the tiny crowd come to life. Previously, only the girl right in front of the press box had been making any noise. ... I guess Sylvain likes calling penalties in multiples, as Kinnunen is headed to the box for tripping with 1:42 to play. Remember what happened last time he was in the penalty box at the LEC? ... I guess the Bucks forgot because they created a few good chances but allowed the Brahmas to clear too much to capitalize on that advantage. They'll start the seconds with 18 seconds left on the power play. ... Benway, who told me not to interview Matt Brayfield about playing today in fear that it would enlarge his ego, is now interviewing him live on the air. Interesting! ... According to the board, the Bucks have outshot the Brahmas 9-6. Okie doke. ... And now the Bucks' goal is being credited to Kozak? I'm so confused. Why is the stick amigo wearing shorts?! Okay, I'll stop with the questions now.
Second Period: Okay, now they've changed the goal back to Agarunov, with Kozak and Russell grabbing assists. ... That 18-second power play to start the period didn't really do much for the Bucks, and the score remains 2-1. ... The Brahmas just pulled off a textbook scoring play, but Gibb wasn't having any of that, as he anticipated exactly where the shot would really be coming from, rather than committing to the assist man as the Brahmas had hoped he would. That wasn't a flashy save, but it was a darn good one. ... Both teams' skaters seem to be having trouble keeping track of the puck right now. Crowd is pretty dead again right now; the Bucks need to pick a fight or score soon if they want to keep the fans in this one at all. ... I just remembered that Travis Banga is in the LEC for the first time since becoming a Brahma right now. Guess he hasn't been doing much tonight. ... Apparently Sheppard figured he would score again before giving the Bucks to even things up. That would be a hat trick in less than half the game, and Matt Brayfield is now being displayed on the jumbotron. I'm so sure. ... The Bucks just had about 10 chances on a loose puck right in front of the net, but nothing doing. ... Crap, I just noticed that my press pass is falling apart. Remind me to tape that up sometime soon. ... Why the heck was Deitsch just on the floor behind the Brahmas' bench? I looked over and saw a pair of skates up in the air behind everyone else's helmets. Very bizarre. ... The Brahmas are on their first power play of the period, just about halfway through it, as Lizon has been called for high-sticking. ... Apparently I missed Featherstone's birthday on Jan. 11. Oops. Happy belated birthday to Devin! ... Not long after the power play expired, the Brahmas made it 4-1 as Tyler Skworchinski deflected a pass from Matt Quinn past Gibb. The Bucks really do seem to be trying, but every time they miss the net, the Brahmas hit it. I'm not sure if it's being shorthanded, being disheartened or just playing sloppy, but something's off. ... Russell is skating his butt off, Dube is trying to keep everyone motivated and Bes is checking guys into the boards left and right...but the younger guys don't really seem to be feeding off of that, at least not enough to do anything about it. There are 5:07 to play in the period, and I think it's pretty clear the Bucks need a goal before it ends if they want to come into the third with any belief that they can win this game. ... Ruskowski said after last weekend that his team's inability to shoot the puck on the net, whether it be saved or not, was one of his chief concerns. Though he was focused on the defense, both the D-men and forwards have proven to have issues with that tonight. ... Banga's name has finally come up, as he is headed to the box for hooking with 1:37 on the clock. ... So you know how I said the Bucks needed to score in this period if they wanted a chance? Well, Miller got the message and just wristed the puck over Jaeger's left shoulder. Pretty nice power-play effort by the second unit, with Salvis and Russell getting the assists. Okay, they only gave one to Salvis for now, but Russell should get one, too. He was the one who created the opportunity for that play, no question about it. There are 9.8 seconds left in the period. ... And now it is over. Brahmas lead 4-2, and the shots read 17-10 in the Bucks' favor.
Third Period: The Bucks are on the power play just 51 seconds into this one as Cameron has gone off for hooking. Talk about a good chance for a momentum swing. ... Well, that didn't work out as the Bucks had hoped, as they failed to score in the first 80 seconds and Kozak got sent to the box for abuse of official at that point in time. Never a good penalty to get called for in that kind of situation. ... Bes just broke away shorthanded and sent a pretty decent shot to Jaeger's left side, but Jaeger gloved it and promptly fell on his back. ... The game that has been moved is the one set for March 7, and it will now be played on March 8. I actually don't mind Sunday games, so whatevs, especially considering the Penguins are off and the NBC game will be over by then anyway. ... The Bucks are trying to check the life out of the Brahmas at this point, but it might be a little late for that to be a successful course of action. ... Brahmas are going back on the power play at 6:22 in the period with a hooking call against Lizon. ... With 43 seconds left on the Brahmas' power play, McConnell was called for interference on Dixon, which will eventually result in a 77-second power play for the Bucks. ... I'm starting to think Jaeger could never have been Goaltender of the Week if he didn't have a great defense clearing all his rebounds. ... Okay, well, when he lets them stay in between his legs, there's not much they can do...but there is something Kozak can. Bucks have pulled within one on their third power-play score of the game with 10:34 left to play. That was a confusing play, with everyone whacking at the puck, so I'm not entirely certain who will be getting assists, and neither is anyone else, it seems. That is exactly what the Bucks have been needing to do all season long; maybe now they'll get how much it pays off. ... Oh, and obviously enough, that means the Bucks have 10 minutes and 34 seconds to score an unanswered goal or fall even further back in the Southeast Division standings. If they want all of the points that are up for grabs, that'll take two. ... The Bucks' intensity has been picking up as time has passed throughout this game, and they are now at full steam. ... Gibb just went behind the net to clear the puck out, and Jacobsen pinned him up against the boards to keep him there. Gibb managed to escape just in time to make a huge save, but that was still odd. ... Apparently skating one's butt off is not always the best decision, as Russell is being sent to the box after flying into Jaeger chasing a rebound. One of the Brahmas was in there, too; Deitsch, I believe. Penalty is goalie interference, and the Brahmas are on the power play with 6:46 left in the game. ... A terrific skills display by Dube couldn't quite get the Bucks a goal, but it did get them a power play as Deitsch was called for cross-checking with 52 seconds left on Russell's minor. It'll be 4-on-4 for those 52, then a Bucks' advantage for 68 seconds. ... The Bucks just got a break on a puck-out-of-play call that prevented the Brahmas from getting the clear they may have deserved. Faceoff in the Brahmas' zone. ... What the heck? Seriously, Gibb is crazy. He just came waaaaay out of his net to fend off a breakaway chance by one of the Brahmas. No harm, no foul, I guess, but that stuff makes me nervous. ... The Bucks are really giving it everything they've got, but they probably should have tried that earlier in the game. Jaeger just fell on top of the puck to keep it out of his net, so the Brahmas still lead 4-3 with just over two minutes to play. ... Holy crap. They just tied it. Now Ruskowski will never be able to convince them that they need to play a whole 60 minutes, haha. Goupil netted that one on an assist from Bes, marking the first time the top line has scored in this game. I have to admit that was pretty cool. But let's just hope they remember there are still 93 seconds left for the Brahmas to absolutely destroy everything they've worked so hard to accomplish. Dixon gets the second assist. I'm sure you've noticed by now that Goupil has an adorably cherubic face, and that face is wearing an ear-to-ear grin right now. ... Oh man, Cameron shot one that was thisclose to the net but missed wide with a couple seconds left on the clock. Gibb would have missed that for sure, but no matter.
Overtime: I'd just like to state off the bat that I love 4-on-4 hockey. Hopefully this will be a great five minutes...or however long it lasts. ... Less than a minute in, Gibb got a big test but stopped the puck in between his skate and the left post and kicked it out to clear. ... Good back-and-forth battle here. Both teams have gotten a couple of chances but not been able to capitalize as of the halfway point in the OT period. ... No matter what complaints Ruskowski has about this game when it's done, I don't think he'll question his players' heart, at least in the latter half of it. Even the guys on the bench are jumping around riled up as time ticks off the clock. ... Ummm, wow. The start of this game was one of Gibb's worst performances, but he is on fire now. He just blocked a great shot that deflected out, was passed to the point and then fired at him on a laser slap shot, but he dove to glove it. Seconds later, another one nearly trickled in, but he sticked it away in just the nick of time. I just remembered how he normally fares in shootouts, though. Whoa boy. ... And that is where we are headed. Give the Bucks credit regardless of how this thing ends, even though they probably won't give themselves much if they lose after coming back like that.
Shootout: The Bucks have chosen to shoot first, and Kozak will be the shooter. ... Well, he had Jaeger faked out, but then he whiffed. Ouch. ... Deitsch is up first for the Brahmas, and he waited until he was past the goal line to shoot, giving Gibb an easy time. ... Goupil was next for the Bucks, but Jaeger kick saved his try away. ... Sheppard time. ... Right into Gibb's chest. ... Mike Gooch just broke through to put the Bucks up 1-0 in the shootout. That kid is a defenseman, but a very offensive one; nice choice by Ruskowski. ... Cameron's up, and Gibb actually saved it and followed that save with a very animated fist pump. ... Bes put the Bucks up 2-0, so now the game lies on Banga's stick. Oh, the irony. ... Gibb stopped it. I never stop thinking that the Bucks are a bunch of overgrown little kids, and boy do they look it right now. That was a pretty fun game to watch...at least the end of it.
Game Over: Bucks win 5-4 in the shootout but still let the Brahmas gain a point. Time to run! ... The only tough thing about writing stories for games like these is deciding which players to interview. I got Gibb and Kozak but would have liked to talk to Gooch and Miller, too. Oh well, I guess. Makes it that much worse that there's no practice tomorrow. ... Bucks improve to 22-11-4 (48 points), while the Brahmas improve to 24-10-4 (52 pts.). I'll have much more on this game tomorrow, I promise.
Other CHL Scores: IceRays 5, Rush 2; Eagles 3, Rage 2; Jackalopes 5, Scorpions 2.
NHL Scores: Devils 5, Canadiens 2; Islanders 2, Ducks 1; Flyers 5, Thrashers 3; Lightning 5, Sabres 3; Bruins 4, Maple Leafs 3 (SO); Stars 4, Panthers 1; Blues 2, Blackhawks 0; Kings 6, Avalanche 5; Flames 5, Blue Jackets 4 (SO).
3 comments:
I'm listening to the game and reading your blog at the same time and I've got to say, we're not looking good at all. Our team play or lack off, is getting hard to take. It seems the boy aren't playing with any sense of urgency or intensity. You'd think they were up by 7 points on Texas.
I'm just hoping they can come back from their 2 point deficit in the 2nd. Disappointing game, yet again. And what is up with all these %&$&*&# penalties? Geez why can't we learn our lesson from all the penalties?
Just to add misery, Texas just went up 4-1. This sucks.
ARE YOU FOR REAL? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? The Bucks came back from a 4-1 deficit to win it on a shootout 5-4. WOW! Ryan Gibb what a man, he is the man of the hour.
I was there. Great. GO BUCKS GO
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