Bucks, Gibb Win In Shootout 5-4

LAREDO, TX- The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League beat the Texas Brahmas 5-4 in a shootout Wednesday night at the Laredo Entertainment Center. With the win the Bucks improve to 22-11-4 (48pts). Laredo now trails the Brahmas by four points in the Southeast Division (52 to 48).  The Bucks trailed 4-1 late in the second period, but battled back to score four straight times to take the win.

Ryan Gibb stopped all four of the Brahmas shootout attempts, while Mike Gooch netted the game-winner in the shootout. Gibb was 0-2 this season in shootouts before Wednesday's win.  Gibb set aside 17 shots in net for the Bucks.

Alex Goupil tied the game at 4-4 with just 1:33 left in the game, as he sent a backhander past Brett Jaeger. The strike was Goupil's 18 of the season, with Jeff Bes and Jason Dixon picking up assists.

Bes leads the CHL in scoring with 58 points (13-45=58).

Laredo (16-4-1 at home) would cut the Brahmas lead to 4-3 when Rick Kozak scored a power-play goal 9:26 into the third. Kozak sent his 15th goal of the year from the slot past Jaeger. Adam Rivet and Matt Miller picked up assists.

The Brahmas (24-10-4) jumped out in front of the Bucks 4:46 into the game as they took advantage of a five-on-three power-play. Scott Sheppard sent in an odd angle shot from the left corner past Ryan Gibb.  The Bucks have given up the first goal in 10 of their last 13 games.

Texas increased their lead to 2-0 on an odd man rush in the Bucks end. Sheppard sent a laser shot from just outside the slot past Gibb. 
   
The Bucks would cut the Brahmas lead in half to 2-1 as they struck on the power-play. Igor Agarunov jammed a backhander in from right in front of the crease past Bret Jaeger. The goal was Agarunovʼs seventh of the year, with Rick Kozak picking up the assist. Laredo outshot Texas in the first period 9-6.

Texas would score two straight goals to start the second period to up their lead to 4-1.  Sheppard scored his third goal of the night 6:38 into the second as he sent a shot in from the bottom of the right circle past Gibb. Sheppard's hat trick gives him 22 goals on the campaign. Tyler Skworchinski would take a feed from Matt Quinn and deflect the puck in from the slot past Gibb to make it 4-1.

The Bucks would cut the Brahmas lead to 4-2 as they scored on the power-play with just 9.8 seconds left in the period. Matt Miller took a feed from Ryan Salvis in the slot and sent a wrist shot past Jaeger. The strike was Miller's sixth of the season. Laredo outshot Texas in the second period 8-4.

The Brahmas fall to 17-0-1 when leading after two periods this season.

Jaeger stopped 30 shots to suffer the overtime loss. 
   
The Bucks played shorthanded for the second straight game, as rookie All-Star Darryl Smith, along with defensemen Steve Weidlich and Jaye Judd were scratched to heal minor injuries.