With a narrow 2-1 win Tuesday, the Amarillo Gorillas are a single victory away from eliminating the Lubbock Cotton Kings and advancing to their second straight Southern Conference Final. Amarillos win gives the club a 3 games to 1 stranglehold on the series and a chance to clinch Saturday night in Game 5. Game 4 was decided by 64 seconds, as the Gorillas scored both goals in that span during the second period to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead, and eventual win. Wednesday, the Northern Conference playoffs resume with the Colorado Eagles (up 2-0 in the series) visiting the Tulsa Oilers for Game 3. Both other CHL playoff series (Laredo up 2-0 at San Angelo and Wichita up 2-1 hosting Bossier-Shreveport) resume Friday.
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Series D Game 4 Lubbock 1 @ Amarillo 2
Amarillo Leads Best of Seven Game Series 3-1
The club scoring first in each of the series first three contests had gone on to victory, but that trend ended Tuesday in Amarillo, as the Gorillas came back from an early 1-0 deficit to earn victory. Anders Strome got the Cotton Kings on the board with his first of the playoffs just 8:47 into play, with Lubbock holding a 14-7 shot advantage after the opening period. The Gorillas reversed play in the second, firing 13 shots on Lubbock goaltender Shawn Conschafter, two which found the back of the net. Rookie forward Keith Rowe tied the game with his first ever professional goal at the 13:17 mark, then Scott Wray notched his second of the post-season at 14:21. The clubs exchanged seven shots each in the scoreless third period.