Texas Moves on to Finals After 8-1 Win Over Odessa
In convincing fashion, the Texas Brahmas advanced to the Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history behind an 8-1 Game Seven victory over the Odessa Jackalopes on Saturday night in the NYTEX Sports Centre. The win ties the CHL record for the largest margin of victory in a Game Seven in CHL Playoff history.
Box Score
Tyler Skworchinski got the Brahmas going early with a pair of first period goals, all a part of his CHL Playoff record-tying six points in the game (3 goals, 3 assists). His teammate Scott Sheppard tied the league mark a week ago in Game Five with a four goal, two assist performance.
Skworchinski’s second goal of the game would prove to be the game winner giving him five in the post-season (he had all four GWG’s in the Brahmas semifinals victory over Rio Grande Valley). The five game winners ties him with Laredo’s Jeff Bes (2006) and Fort Worth Fire’s Stephane Larocque (1997) for the most in a single playoff season.
Texas lead 6-0 after two period as the thumping was on. Skworchinski netted his hat trick early in the second period giving the Brahmas a 3-0 lead and he was followed by goals from Matt Quinn, Justin Kinnunen and Kevin McLeod.
Brett Jaeger made 30 saves in the game allowing just a second period Kenny Bernard goal from the Jacks. The win gives the Texas netminder an 8-3 record in the playoffs and a league-leading 1.85 goals against average.
Playoff Goaltending Leaders
Other Brahmas with big nights include Quinn who scored twice, Grant Jacobsen who had three helpers and Jason Deitsch who had a goal and an assist giving him a league-leading 16 points in the playoffs (5-11=16).
Playoff Scoring Leaders
The lone appearance in a finals series for the Brahmas was in the 1998 Western Professional Hockey League Finals where they were swept by the El Paso Buzzards in four games.
The Brahmas will now wait for the winner of the Mississippi/Colorado series who have Game Six scheduled for Sunday night and Game Seven on Monday (if necessary). Colorado currently leads the series three games to two.