Game No. 63 - Bucks vs. Brahmas

Starters: Bucks - Sebastien Centomo (G), Jason Dixon (F), Mike Gooch (D), Matt Miller (F), Ryan Salvis (F), Vincent Zaore-Vanie (D); Brahmas - David Cacciola (G), Kevin McLeod (F), Matt Quinn (F), Pete Rouleau (F), Nathan Saunders (D), Tyler Skworchinki (F).

First Period: Bobby Russell has his "A" back in his return, taking the one worn by Brent Cullaton last night. Alex Goupil and Adam Rivet still have theirs. ... Two of the Brahmas more physical players, Saunders and Skworchinski, are out to start, but they lack of fighters in the Bucks' starting lineup implies they won't be getting any brawls on the opening faceoff. ... No fights indeed, but a very physical first 21 seconds. ... So physical, in fact, that Dixon is headed to the box for elbowing to put the Brahmas on the game's first power play. ... Russell is out to kill the penalty before even playing a shift at even strength in his return. ... And the Brahmas are now 0-for-1 on the advantage. ... Rolando Gallegos is the honorary assistant coach tonight; hope you're having fun out there! Lucky for you it wasn't last night, haha. ... Brahmas are outshooting the Bucks 5-1 just past five minutes in. ... The Bucks just got a couple lucky breaks on Brahmas' shots missing the net. If they had been on-target, they would have been in. ... Bucks finally got something offensive going with the top line of Goupil-Rookie of the Year Darryl Smith-James Hiebert on the ice, but nothing doing. ... Miller and the puck just went into the net, but his body beat the puck and got the net off its moorings, so that is not going to get anyone on the board. ... Salvis just had a decent chance from the circle but broke his stick on a slap shot and missed wide. ... Cacciola just came way out of his net to try to grab a puck and missed it, but his teammates grabbed it for him to ruin what could have been a great chance for the Bucks. ... If nothing else, Smith will at least pick up more penalty minutes tonight, as he is headed to the box for holding with 1:25 to play in the period. ... And now it'll be 4-on-4 for the remaining 18.9 seconds of the first period and the first 35 of the second, as Scott Sheppard is serving a too-many-men penalty for the Brahmas. ... End of the period, no score, and the Brahmas are up 8-4 on shots.

Second Period: Bucks are on their first power play now with 35 seconds expired in the period. ... Craig Minard has gone in for hooking at 1:39 to keep the Bucks on the power play, including a brief 5-on-3, for a while longer. ... The Bucks somehow missed an open net on a shot that looked like it should have trickled in, then Centomo has has to make a couple saves to keep the Brahmas off the board in the first half of this stanza. ... I think Hiebert just stayed on the ice well after his shift ended for the first time since coming back about a week and a half ago. I don't know if I'll ever get used to him wearing No. 79. ... THe Bucks just absolutely wrecked the Brahmas physically on a shift, including some very hard hits on Justin Kinnunen. Rick Kozak is headed to the box at 8:03, where he'll serve two for cross-checking, as a result. ... Oh, apparently Zaore got called for interference at the same time, so this'll be a full 5-on-3 for the Brahmas. Oh boy. ... Okay, no longer. Brandon Benedict, much to his and his teammates' dismay, was called for hooking at 8:50 to make it 4-on-3 then a Bucks' power play for 47 seconds. ... After a series of spectacular saves, Centomo was beaten high on a flukey shot from the slot by McLeod. Brahmas lead 1-0 at 9:20. That was their 17th shot, while the Bucks have taken eight. ... The Bucks will get their first full power play now as Benedict committed the same penalty at 11:26. ... Some nice work on this power play, which is clearly comprised of plenty of personnel who weren't in these spots a couple weeks ago, but Cacciola is standing strong so far. ... Oh geeze. Jason Deitsch just broke away shorthanded and got taken out from behind, so he'll get a penalty shot. The Bucks always give those to the last people they should. ... Haha, gotta love it when a goalie makes a save and doesn't even know it. Deitsch tried to go five-hole and Centomo had his legs close enough together to stop it but didn't know for sure that's where the puck was and refused to stand up until turning his upper body around to make sure the puck wasn't trickling into the net. The guys seemed pretty excited by that stop, but we'll see if it gives them any momentum. ... Guess not, but they still have 1:05 to try to tie it up before this period ends. ... No go. Brahmas lead 1-0 and 23-10 on shots.

Third Period: Was that the longest "Minute of Madness" ever? I think that was the longest "Minute of Madness" ever. Over three minutes before the first whistle was blown, and I couldn't even hear it. Bucks go on the power play as Minard heads to the box at 3:12 for hooking. ... Nothing doing on the power play, but it's 2-0 Brahmas at 5:23 as Quinn got one to trickle through Centomo's legs the way he thought the Deitsch penalty shot had. ... And make that 3-0 on a shot from the circle by Deitsch. Seems the wheels are starting to come off here. ... Igor Agarunov has been called for interference at 7:13 to put the Brahams on the power play. ... Okay, 4-0. McLeod tacked on another for good measure at 8:01. This is going to be a tough game story to write considering the game is effectively meaningless but everyone will still be upset when it's done. ... Hiebert to the box for roughing. The only thing odd about that is the No. 79. Brahmas on another power play at 12:58. ... I'm thinking now might be Hiebert jumping people time, as the Brahmas just scored another at 13:47. Sheppard on that one. ... I am so good at that game. Hiebert just attacked a Brahmas player in the corner and looks pretty ticked off. Just under two minutes left to play. ... I guess that was Ross Rouleau, as he got a roughing penalty and left the ice. Hiebert got roughing and tripping, one of which is being served by Erick Lizon. ... Zaore decided to pick up right where Zaore left off with a brawl against Travis Banga. They're both leaving the ice on roughing penalties. ... More pushing and shoving to follow the final buzzer, and Lizon is trying to follow someone, possibly Grant Jacobsen off the ice. Oh, temper tantrums.

Game Over: Bucks lose 5-0, fall to 35-23-5 (75 points). This is why Ruskowski was so glad to be tied heading into overtime last night.

Other Scores: Gorillas 5, Scorpions 4 (OT); Eagles 4, Rage 3 (OT).

NHL Scores: Kings 3, Bruins 2 (OT); Senators 5, Canadiens 4; Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 1; Capitals 5, Lightning 2; Oilers 8, Avalanche 1; Canucks 3, Blues 0; Ducks 3, Coyotes 2 (SO); Sharks 3, Predators 2 (SO).