Game No. 56 - Bucks at Jackalopes

This is obviously a big one, but going up against this team a couple nights after performing the way they did on Wednesday, I'm not sure the Bucks even think they have a chance to win.

Coach Ruskowski said he "degraded" his players in the locker room after their horrific first period on Wednesday, and they came out in the second with a little jump...for about five minutes.

They're going to need a full game of that tonight to get a win, and with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees at the Arizona Sundogs again, this time with the Sundogs having lost their top goalie to the AHL, that No. 3 seed is looking less and less definite by the day.

I'll try my best to update you on this one, but with boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, track and field, golf and tennis all in action tonight, I'll probably be getting a little busy with phone calls.

You can, of course, follow the game here if you aren't watching it.

First Period: Apparently the Bucks got my memo, because they are outshooting the Jackalopes 9-3 heading into their first power play, also the first of the game, caused by a cross-checking call against Jeff Pierce at 8:35. The key here is whether or not they continue to shoot while they're on the advantage. ... Sebastien Centomo and Alexandre Vincent are the starting netminders, by the way. ... So much for that, as Adam Rivet took an interference call 20 seconds into the power play to make it 4-on-4 for 1:40, then a Jackalopes power play for 20 seconds. ... Both teams are now "0-for-1" on the power play. ... Well, the Bucks got through 20 minutes without allowing the high-scoring Jackalopes a goal and actually outshot them 13-8. I can't see how that would be a bad thing.

Second Period: Somehow all the penalties in this one are coming close together, and Russ Moyer and Matt Miller just took simultaneous calls for high-sticking and hooking, respectively. Woo 4-on-4 hockey. ... I guess Brent Cullaton likes 4-on-4 as much as I do, because he just took advantage of all that open ice to score the game's first goal at 6:05, with 15 seconds remaining on the penalties. Serge Dube has what is currently the lone assist, and the Jackalopes will now get a 15-second power play. ... Josh Chase has tied it up just under 10 minutes later at the 15:16 mark on a goal assisted by Kenny Bernard and Kory Karlander. That goal came on the Jackalopes' 14th shot; the Bucks have taken 19 so far. ... And things are tied 1-1 heading into the second intermission.

Third Period: The Jackalopes have taken their first lead of the game at 4:10 in the period on a power-play goal by Jeff Pierce with Vincent Zaore-Vanie in the box for a tripping call taken at 2:29. League scoring leader Sebastien Thinel had the primary assist, and Mike Lesperance has the second helper. ... The Bucks got a power-play chance when Garrett Gruenke went to the box for holding at 11:19 but could not convert. ... It appears Ruskowski has pulled Centomo; we'll see if that does any good. ... Only for the Jackalopes, it seems, as Pierce has his second goal of the game on an empty-netter assisted by Thinel.

Game Over: Bucks lose 3-1, drop to 31-20-5 (67 points) and could be only four points ahead of the Killer Bees by night's end. ... And that is indeed the case, as the Killer Bees defeated the Sundogs 5-4.

Other Scores: Blazers 5, Gorillas 1; Mudbugs 1, Thunder 0; Brahmas 3, IceRays 0; RiverKings 5, Oilers 4; Killer Bees 5, Sundogs 4; Rage 5, Eagles 1; Scorpions 5, Rush 1.

NHL Scores: Hurricanes 6, Flames 1; Sabres 5, Coyotes 1; Thrashers 2, Canadiens 0; Blues 4, Lightning 3 (OT); Stars 3, Ducks 2.