The Odessa Jackalopes searched for redemption on Saturday night against the Warriors, following a 5-2 loss the night before.
The 1st period saw chances for both teams, Max Bely, the starting goalie for the Jacks, made a great save on a mini breakaway just a couple of minutes into the contest. The Jacks would go to the box around the midway point of the first. Despite some great chances from the Warriors, the Jacks were able to successfully kill it off, with a few great saves from Bely. The next few minutes would be back and forth as Michael Kadlecik would ring one off the bar, but the Jacks would eventually go on the power play with just under 8 minutes remaining. Jack Christen would get a good opportunity on the power play, however the shot would be soaked up by Warriors goaltender Daniel Duris. In the last couple of minutes of the 1st period, Oklahoma would be awarded another power play and Bely would make 5+ saves on the penalty kill, keeping the game scoreless going into the intermission. Shots on goal after the 1st were 21-10 in favor of Oklahoma.
The 2nd period was a quick start for the Warriors, as they took possession in the offensive zone, and fired one home on a turnaround shot from the top of the faceoff circle. That gave Oklahoma the 1-0 lead, and was the first SOG in the 2nd period for either side. During the 3rd power play of the game for the Warriors, they would once again find the back of the net. A shot from the top of the right faceoff circle beat Bely to make it 2-0 Warriors. Following that goal, tempers would flare as physicality both during play and after the whistles would ramp up significantly. Following the midway point of the 2nd period, the Warriors would dominate the tempo up until the 5 minute mark of the 2nd period, when the Jacks would get on another power play. The Jacks started the power play hot, by getting bodies in front of the net and shots toward Duris, but the Warriors would finish the kill strong with a couple of clears out of the defensive zone. During the 2nd period, Bely would get run into twice in the span of about 20 seconds, and out of precaution, Quentin Sigurdson would come into the game for the Jacks.
The Jacks started the 3rd period on the Jersey Mike’s power play for the first 34 seconds, however, they were unable to generate any chances. The Jacks would get on the board just a few minutes later, as they would beat out an icing call, and send one toward the net, Hunter Whisenand found the loose puck and poked it home past Duris to make it a 2-1 game in favor of the Warriors with 16 minutes to play. The Jacks would breathe life following the goal, just two minutes after Hayden DeMars and Marcus Fechko moved forward on a 2 on 1, and DeMars would snap one off the goal post. The Warriors would take the momentum back just a few minutes later, as a stretch pass was sent through the neutral zone, springing the Warriors on the breakaway, they would convert and take the two-goal lead back, 3-1 with 7:21 to go in the 3rd. The Warriors would go on to score the empty net goal with 2:30 remaining to make it 4-1. Then they would once again convert just 21 seconds later to make it 5-1. That would do it from Oklahoma.
The Jacks fall to 15-18-4 on the campaign, their next game is, Friday, January 26th @ 7:15 at the Ector County Coliseum against the Oklahoma Warriors
Reminder Jacks fans single game tickets are on sale and season ticket packages are still available. You can find them online or call 432-552-7825 and Tania can help you out. Come be a part of the Jacks family as we celebrate 27 continuous years of hockey in Odessa!