The Odessa Jackalopes began their final weekend of the regular season on Friday night in Corpus Christi.
From the jump, this game had high scoring written all over it. The Jackalopes would tally the opening goal of the contest as a bouncing biscuit deflected to Marcus Fechko in front who fired it into the open cage for a 1-0 lead. Less than a minute later, the IceRays responded however with two goals in less than a minute to take a 2-1 lead less than three minutes into the contest. While the scoring would die down, it would be the IceRays getting the next goal with four minutes remaining in the 1st period to extend their lead to 3-1. The Jacks would respond however on the power play as Teddy Manlove sauced one across to Hayden DeMars, who sniped it bar-down for his 17th goal of the season. The IceRays would lead the game 3-2 headed into the locker room. Shots on goal after 20 minutes were 14-9 in favor of the Jackalopes.
If you thought the 2nd period would be any different, think again. 29 seconds into the period, the IceRays would restore their two-goal lead to make it 4-2. In true teeter-totter fashion, the Jackalopes responded just under a minute later as Zach Benayon dropped one for Nick Metelkin and he fired the puck from the slot into the back of the net to bring the game back within one. That was Metelkin’s 3rd point of the night. Midway through the 2nd, the Jackalopes would find the back of the net once again on a net-front scramble and Jeremy Jacobs located the loose puck as he deposited it past Corpus Christi goalie, Bryant Marks, for his 1st NAHL goal. As Corpus Christi came back to full strength, with two minutes remaining, they would find the back of the net once again to take a 5-4 lead headed into the 3rd period.
The 3rd period got underway and the Jackalopes would get the opening tally of the frame as Michael Kadlecik received a cross-ice feed from Cam Dunn and buried it into the back of the net, tying the game at five. The IceRays would respond with a goal of their own, but again, Kadlecik on the same play was able to one-time the puck home from nearly the same spot to make it a 6-6 contest. The IceRays would outshoot the Jackalopes in the 3rd period, but the game would head to OT.
Both teams had their share of chances in OT. Kadlecik would be stoned on the breakaway, as he tried to complete the hat trick for the night. Max Bely on the ensuing counterattack stopped a 3 on 1 rush from Corpus Christi as well, but it was the Jackalopes scoring a highlight reel goal. Kowin Belsterling moved up center-ice, pulled an inside deke, split the defenders, and roofed it into the back of the net, giving the Jacks the 7-6 OTW.
That was the 1st win for the Jackalopes all season, when trailing after two periods of play (prev. 0-22-4).
The Jackalopes improve to 22-29-8 on the season, with tomorrow being the final game of the season, 7:35 P.M. start against the IceRays.
All games can be streamed on the league’s streaming service, NAHLTV, with the voice of the Jackalopes, Brandon Luisi. There will be a free audio only version available on the Odessa Jackalopes YouTube page.