ON THE OFFENSIVE, BRAHMAS DEFENSE DELIVERS 3-2 WIN

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas (February 13)- The top spot for the Southern Conference was on the line Friday night at the NYTEX Sports Centre, and the Brahmas defensemen took charge in defeating the Odessa Jackalopes 3-2 in front of a sellout crowd.

The Brahmas (32-12-4) tested Odessa goaltender Jeremy Symington early, outshooting the Jackalopes 11-2 at the midway mark in the opening period. It wasn’t until the second when the Brahmas shots found the back of the net when defenseman Kevin McLeod posted his 13th goal of the season. Minutes later McLeod and the Brahmas took advantage of some 4-on-4 hockey when he netted his second of the night after crashing the net.

Odessa (30-13-5) came alive in the third to make things even at 2-2, but Texas’ defenseman Nathan Saunders made sure the Jackalopes second goal celebration was short lived when he took a pass from Mike Vellinga, and what seemed to be an innocent shot down the ice, hurled past Symington for a Brahmas 3-2 lead. Yet, the storyline of the third period came between the pipes with Texas’ netminder Brett Jaeger who stood on his head in the final minutes to record his 23rd win of the season. Texas outshot Odessa 33-32 and increased their home winning streak to a league best, 10 games.

Tomorrow night will be a rematch between the Brahmas and Jackalopes for a special Valentine’s Day game at the NYTEX Sports Centre at 7:05 PM.