The Odessa Jackalopes (4-6-1) took on the Amarillo Wranglers (4-4-1) on Saturday evening after a thrilling OT win the night before.
In the opening frame, both teams traded opportunities in the offensive zone, however it was the Wranglers getting on the board first, just over six minutes after the opening faceoff. The Jacks responded promptly with a goal of their own just 33 seconds later as Christian Tavare slapped one home on the one-timer to make it a tie hockey game. The Wranglers would control the ensuing couple of minutes and strike at the midway point of the first, making it a 2-1 hockey game in favor of Amarillo, which they would take into the 1st intermission. Shots on goal for that period were 15-7 in favor of the Wranglers.
Amarillo kept their foot on the gas pedal in the 2nd period, firing three goals home in the first 9:08 of the 2nd period to extend their lead to 5-1. After the 4th goal of the night at the 6:13 mark of the 2nd, the Jacks would make a goalie change, bringing in Maksim Bely for the first time this season. With a little over six minutes to play in the 2nd period, the physicality would ramp up. Tavare was in front of the net in the offensive zone, was knocked down by Amarillo forward Divyne Apollon. Tavare wrestled himself away, began to skate to the bench, and as he hopped over the bench, Apollon attempted to grab Tavare off the bench and fight him. This triggered everyone to beeline for the Odessa bench and there was an old fashioned line brawl. At the end of it, 70 penalty minutes were given out to both sides, with three game misconducts as well. With just 41 seconds to go in the 2nd period, Teddy Manlove would cut into the Amarillo lead with a nice shot below the crossbar. The Wranglers would take a 5-2 lead into the 2nd intermission. Shots on goal for that period were 13-6 in favor of Amarillo.
The Jacks found themselves in a familiar position as they had a multiple goal deficit in El Paso, going into the 3rd period, but came up just short. Just under seven minutes into the 3rd period, Tavare would fire home his 2nd of the game in between the hash marks and make it a two-goal game. The Jacks kept the momentum going as just over the halfway point into the 3rd period, on the power play, Hayden DeMars one-timed his shot home cutting the Amarillo lead to one. With four and a half minutes to play, the Jacks controlled the puck in the offensive zone, it was fired toward the net by Tommy Manzella, and standing out in front was DeMars to pick up the loose change and tie the game at five. The buzzer would sound and for the 2nd straight night, the Jacks and Wranglers needed extra time to finish the game. The Jacks would be caught lacking in OT, as all three players swarmed the two Wranglers in the zone and Jack Ivey was the trailer, the Wranglers found him the pass and he fired it home to seal the deal.
The Jacks fell to 4-6-2 on the season, while the Wranglers improved to 5-4-1. The next Jacks series is Friday and Saturday October 20th and 21st at 8:00 P.M. CDT against the El Paso Rhinos. These games will be available on NAHLTV.
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! Opening weekend is October 27th and 28th as the Odessa Jackalopes take on the El Paso Rhinos.