The Odessa Jackalopes (4-6-2) were back in El Paso Friday night to take on the Rhinos for the 2nd weekend in 3 weekends. Former Jacks goaltender Kael DePape started for the Rhinos. The last time he started against the Jacks was two weeks ago where he recorded his first win and shutout of the season.
The first period started off on the wrong skate for the Jacks as just over three minutes into the period, the Rhinos would convert on a rebound attempt and take the early 1-0 lead over the Jacks. Throughout the rest of the period, the Jacks would spend time in the offensive zone and pressure DePape, but it wasn’t until the last two minutes of the period, where the Jacks converted on a greasy rebound goal in front of the net. Christian Tavare, who had two goals in last Saturday’s game against the Amarillo Wranglers, got body position in front of the net and muscled the puck into the back of the net. This equalized the contest at 1, which is where the score would remain at the first intermission. The line of Manlove-Tavare-Demars after that goal scored the last six goals for the Jackalopes, dating back to Saturday’s overtime loss to the Amarillo Wranglers. In that first period the Rhinos were unsuccessful on their only power play opportunity midway through the first period. Shots on goal ended 14-11 in favor of the Jacks.
In the 2nd period the Jacks would be awarded two power plays in the first seven minutes of the period, but they would be unsuccessful on both attempts. The Rhinos would have their fair share of shorthanded opportunities as well, the odd-man rushes ramped up following those two power plays. The Jacks would be short handed toward the end half of the 2nd period twice as well, but they held the Rhinos off the special teams board due to superb goaltending from Jacks goaltender Quentin Sigurdson. The game would still be tied at 1 at the end of the 2nd. Shots on goal were 15-8 in favor of the Rhinos.
The 3rd period was a hard fought grind. Both teams would get opportunities on the man advantage. However, neither team was able to convert. The Rhinos would dominate the last ten minutes of the period, but Sigurdson came up big, also with help from the iron behind him. The Rhinos would hit two goalposts on odd man rushes that period. For the 3rd straight game, the Jacks would head to the extra period and gain a point in the contest.
The overtime period was ALL El Paso. They had three breakaways in the OT period, yet Sigurdson and the post were up to the test on all the odd-man rushes and kept the game tied. With 16 seconds remaining the Jacks would go a man down, but the Rhinos were unable to set up in the zone and the buzzer would sound resulting in a shootout.
If the goalposts weren’t already a theme for the Rhinos, they continued into the shootout. The Rhinos would hit two goalposts in what ended up being seven rounds in the shootout. Neither team was able to find the back of the net, until Jacks defenseman Svante Strandberg strolled into the zone and fired one high glove on DePape, meaning the Rhinos needed to score to stay alive. Sigurdson stood tall and made the save, giving the Jacks the shootout win.
The Jacks improve to 5-6-2 on the season, while the Rhinos fall to 9-3-1. The Jacks have a streak going of their own. They have earned 5 of the 6 possible points in the last three games they’ve played (2-0-1).
The next game for the Jacks is Saturday, October 21st, at 8:00 CDT. These games will be available on NAHLTV (El Paso feed only).
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.