Gorillas Punch Playoff Ticket

And then there were three. By virtue of a 2-1 victory over visiting Oklahoma City Thursday evening, the Amarillo Gorillas have become the third CHL club to clinch a position in the Central Hockey League’s Ray Miron President’s Cup Playoffs. The post-season appearance marks the second consecutive trip for Coach Joe Ferras and an Amarillo franchise that had not qualified for the post-season in their first six seasons. The Gorillas join CHL overall leader Laredo and San Angelo as confirmed playoff clubs in the Southern Conference, while no one has yet earned a position in the Northern Conference, although both Bossier-Shreveport and Colorado are heavily favored to clinch their respective divisions.

The Gorillas clinched their playoff invitation behind outstanding goaltending from All-Star Shawn Degagne and timely goals by Henry Kuster and Scott Wray. Degagne turned aside 46 Oklahoma City shots, including 19 in the second period, to pick up his 25th win of the season. Kuster’s 18th goal of the year late in the first period tied the game at one after Doug Sheppard opened the scoring with a power play marker for the Blazers. With just over six minutes left in the contest, Kuster set up Wray’s 22nd of the year, making the final 2-1. While the Gorillas are in, things are far less certain for Oklahoma City, who sit eight points out of playoff position with 10 games to go.

Elsewhere around the CHL on Thursday, the revitalized Lubbock Cotton Kings continued their improved play, edging visiting Tulsa 2-1 in a shootout. Lubbock’s Paul Fioroni and Tulsa’s Jason Bermingham exchanged goals in the middle frame, then Jan Melichercik ended the contest in the shootout with his 14th goal of the year. While Lubbock has already been knocked out of playoff contention, Tulsa’s post-season hopes continue to dwindle, out of playoff position by 14 points.

In Albuquerque, the New Mexico Scorpions posted a crucial 4-3 shootout win over Colorado to improve their playoff chances. Four different Scorpions, including Clint Wensley in the shootout, scored, while Brad Williamson, Karlis Zirnis and Riley Nelson scored for the Eagles.

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