The Amarillo Gorillas and Laredo Bucks resume their best of seven game Southern Conference Finals this evening in Amarillo. Tied 1-1 in the series after splitting a pair of games last weekend at the Laredo Entertainment Center, the clubs will also meet Friday and Saturday prior to the series shifting back to Laredo for Game Six and Seven if necessary next Tuesday and Wednesday. The first two games were markedly different. Laredo handily won the opener, scoring six straight goals en route to a dominating 6-2 final score that may have been flattering to the Gorillas. In the second game, Amarillo scored just 27 seconds into the contest and built a 4-0 lead they refused to relinquish, and gave the Bucks their first playoff loss after four straight wins.
Tonight at the Amarillo Civic Center, the Gorillas need to improve their home performance. In the opening round they lost both games at home, scoring only one goal in two losses to San Angelo. All four of Amarillos playoff victories have been on the road, and with the next three games in Amarillo, home production will be key. Laredo, meanwhile, is perfect in their only road game this post-season, closing out a three game sweep of Rio Grande Valley with a 3-0 win at the Dodge Arena on March 28th.
Laredo currently has a solid advantage in both key special teams thus far in the playoffs. Their top ranked penalty killing unit has allowed just one power play goal in 33 chances (96.9%), and the Bucks power play has four goals on 22 opportunities (18.2%) with the man advantage. Amarillos power play has been weak to date, with only a pair of goals in 32 chances (06.2%) while their penalty killing has been largely effective, allowing just three goals against in 32 (90.1%) opposition power plays. The Northern Conference Finals resume Friday in Wichita, with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs holding a 2-1 series lead over the Thunder.
Watch Game Three Live on CHLTV
Live Game Three Boxscore: Laredo @ Amarillo
Live Game Audio: Amarillo Broadcast
Live Game Audio: Laredo Broadcast
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