Ice Bats Need Overtime to Force a Game Three

Three Stars:
1. Miguel Beaudry (AUS)
2. R.G. Flath (AUS)
3. Alexandre Vincent (ODE)

Austin, TX – The Austin Ice Bats won their first home playoff game in five years on Wednesday night in overtime by a score of 3-2.  R.G. Flath scored the overtime game winner after redirecting a John Ronan shot past Odessa goaltender Alexandre Vincent.  The win extends the best-of-three opening round series to a third and deciding game on Thursday night in Odessa.

The Ice Bats started the scoring half-way through the first period with a Brendan Cook goal.  It was responded to by the Jacks with Colin Cercelli scoring on the power play tying the game at one goal apiece after 20 minutes.

In the second period, the team’s exchanged goals with Nathan Ward giving Odessa their only lead of the night and Ted Vandermeer tying it up with a power play goal.

Odessa outshot Austin 43-33 as Beaudry made 41 saves earning the victory and first star honors  Vincent was sharp as well stopping 30 shots but it wasn’t enough and the rookie goaltender will face his first professional elimination game on Thursday on home ice.

Flath’s overtime goal was scored at the 2:10 mark of the extra session taking much of the drama out of the equation.

Next Game: Game Three of the series will be on Thursday night at the Ector County Coliseum with face-off scheduled for 7:05 PM (CST).  The winner will advance to play the Laredo Bucks in the Southern Conference semi finals.

Notebook: Miguel Beaudry turned away 20 shots in the second period only allowing Ward’s goal…Olivier Proulx and Alex Dunn each had seven shots on goal leading the way for Odessa…Brendan Cook had five shots topping the list for Austin…The Ice Bats have yet to beat the Jacks in regulation this year going 1-3 with the lone win coming in overtime.