The Odessa Jackalopes made their way to Oklahoma city to begin the two-game weekend series against the Oklahoma Warriors Friday night.
The 1st period was a quick start for the Warriors as they would strike just over three minutes into the contest. A short 2 on 1 rush led to a tap in to give the Warriors the 1-0 lead early. The Warriors speed proved to be a difference, especially early as the transition game from the Warriors were able to generate some high danger scoring chances. The Jacks would begin to breathe some life in the mid-stages of the 1st period, sustaining some offensive zone time and getting pucks toward Warriors goaltender Daniel Duris. One of the best opportunities came off of a rare defensive zone turnover from the Warriors, which turned into a mini 2 on 1 for the Jacks, Cam Dunn had Michael Kadlecik to his right, elected to shoot and the shot was partially blocked as it came toward the cage. Toward the late stages of the 1st, the pace of the game slowed down and so did the chances for both teams, as the Warriors would take the 1-0 lead into the 1st intermission. Quentin Sigurdson made 13 saves on 14 Warriors shots in the 1st period.
The 2nd period began as a slower period, one team would get a shot on goal on one end and the other team would do the same. Not a lot of constant offensive zone time for either team in the first half of the 2nd. Physicality ramped up in the 2nd period however, as veteran D-man Lem Vardy trucked a Warrior in the Warrior defensive zone, that seemed to spark a fire on both benches. Just a couple minutes after the hit, coincidental minor penalties were issued after the play for roughing, as things would start to heat up after the whistle. During that 4 on 4 with a lot more open ice, the Jacks would commit a penalty, resulting in a 4 on 3 for 1:02 for the Warriors. The Warriors would convert on the power play with 2 seconds left to make it a 2-0 lead. Just a few seconds later, the Jacks would go on their first power play of the game. All it took was 9 seconds and the captain, Jack Christen, fired a knuckleball from the point to cut the Oklahoma lead to 1. That sparked some life into the Jacks as they were able to generate some more opportunities in the O-zone throughout the rest of the period. The last couple of minutes was back-and-forth, as the Jacks would convert on a 2 on 1 rush. Hayden DeMars received a deflected pass from Marcus Fechko and fired it in the back of the net to tie the game at 2. 46 seconds later however, the Warriors would answer and take the lead back with a shot from the top of the faceoff circle, making it 3-2 Warriors. They would take the 3-2 lead into the 3rd period. Shots on goal through two periods were 24-20 in favor of Oklahoma, both teams also were 1/1 on the power play.
Oklahoma started the period off the way they wanted as just under two minutes into the 3rd period, the Warriors would get an insurance goal on a great deflection out in front of the net to extend their lead to 4-2. Play would start to slow down on both sides as neither side would register a shot on goal for the next few minutes of the period. While the Jacks would get a power play midway through the 3rd, they would be unsuccessful and fall to 1-2 on the night. Shortly after, the Warriors would get a power play of their own, and Sigurdson would shut the door as the Jacks would kill off the penalty. The Jacks would pull Sigurdson with about 3:30 to go and it only took the Warriors 20 seconds to fire it into the empty net to make it 5-2. That would be how the game would end as the Warriors would win their 5th straight.
The Jacks fall to 15-17-4 on the campaign, their next game is, Saturday, January 20th @ 7:15 in Oklahoma City, 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!