Game Day No. 45

Finally, a game against someone other than the Corpus Christi IceRays.

After three in a row, including two losses, against the IceRays, the Bucks (25-15-4, 54 points) will host the Tulsa Oilers (12-26-6, 30 pts.) tonight at the LEC.

The Bucks are coming off one of those aforementioned losses, a 2-1 defeat at the American Bank Center last night, while the Oilers are coming off a 7-2 beating at the hands of the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.

I'll let the guys who were actually at those games tell you a little more about them; you can read Greg Rajan's story and observations about the Bucks' loss and Brian Sandalow's blog and story about the Oilers' mess. The Caller-Times also has a photo gallery from the game up for those of you interested.

This is the last chance for the Bucks' current players to prove themselves before Monday's trade deadline, so you'd think playing against the team with the second-worst record in the league would be a good opportunity. But, the Oilers did beat the Colorado Eagles the other night, so who knows.

I'm feeling more than a little under the weather, so now that I'm done with my office work, I'm going to go buy some meds before the game. I apologize in advance for the possibility of my live blogging being less intense than usual.

By the way, after I noted Justin Kinnunen having an assist last night, the Rampage stormed back to tie the game but eventually lost 4-3 in overtime. Kinnunen finished with two assists, both primary, and was one of only four Rampage players to register a positive plus/minus. He was also a starter, apparently, so it seems he's making a pretty decent case for not coming back to the CHL this season.