Five of the seven games tonight in the Central Hockey League were decided by a goal, including a pair of shootouts. It took ten rounds, but Wichita squeaked by the Eagles 3-2 in a shootout and Amarillo bested Lubbock 4-3 also in a shootout for the second night in a row. Elsewhere, the Jackalopes ended Austin’s win streak with a 5-4 triumph, Memphis swept the three game series in Youngstown with a 5-4 win, and Oklahoma City edged the Oilers 4-3 in Tulsa. Also in action, the Bucks bashed the Bees 6-1 and the Mudbugs blanked the Brahmas 3-0.

Lubbock 3 @ Amarillo 4 SO
Joe Guenther thought he had the Cotton Kings right where he wanted them. Actually he did, scoring twice in 55 seconds with less than three minutes remaining in regulation for a 3-2 lead, but Lubbock’s Nolan Graham tied the game with only two second remaining. The contest moved through overtime and into a shout, when sniper Derek Hahn was credited with the game winner in a 4-3 victory over Lubbock. The shootout win was the second over the Kings in two nights for Amarillo.

Austin 4 @ Odessa 5
Odessa’s Matt Cressman ended Austin’s nine-game winning streak with a goal at the 18:56 mark of the third period to put the Jacks’ up 5-4 for good. The goal was Cressman’s third of the game and fourth game winner of the season. Aaron Davis had two goals in a losing effort for the Ice Bats, who hadn’t lost since January 11th.

Colorado 2 @ Wichita 3 SO
Attempting to fight back in the race for first in the Northwest Division, the Thunder picked up a crucial two points in a 3-2 win over Colorado. Unfortunately, they gave up a two goal lead and ended taking the game in a shootout, leaving a point for the Eagles. Wichita scored one in the first and another at the midway point in game, but Colorado snuck in a late second period goal and then tied the game at 2-2 late in the third to steal a point on the road. Sebastien Laplante stopped 40 shots (9 shootout saves) in the win and Ben Murphy scored thw winner in the 10th round of the shootout.

Memphis 5 @ Youngstown 4
The RiverKings must love playing in Youngstown. Memphis swept the three game series in the Chevrolet Centre, spoiling hopes for a win from another solid crowd, and moved their season mark to 5-0 against the SteelHounds with a 5-4 victory. Don Parsons scored a pair of goals, the second was the game winner and capped a wild third period flurry where the teams combined for five goals in four minutes. Youngstown fought back from a 3-1 deficit with three goals in three minutes in the third, but the RiverKings responded 22 seconds later, followed by Parsons’ goal just 26 ticks after that.

Bossier-Shreveport 3 @ Fort Worth 0
The Mudbugs resurgence continued as did the Brahmas struggles in a 3-0 win for Bossier-Shreveport. Ken Carroll made 25 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and Dan Wildfong gets credit for the game winner with his goal at the mid-way point of the first period.

Rio Grande Valley 1 @ Laredo 6
The Killer Bees need to start winning these rivalry games if they have any hopes of catching Laredo in the race for first in the Southeast Division. The Bucks were far too strong tonight, however, as they win 6-1 and increase their lead to 16 points. James Heibert continues to roll with one goal and three assists, and teammate Chris Grenville scored two goals including the game winner for Laredo, who has won seven of its last eight.

Oklahoma City 4 @ Tulsa 3
The Blazers continued their strong play with a gutsy 4-3 road win in Tulsa. The Oilers got a pair of goals from Henry Kuster, but that was one less than the hat trick from Oklahoma City’s Jared Dumba. Dumba scored once in the first period and then a pair of goals in two minutes late in the second, the last of which was the game winner. The victory in Tulsa’s building is a boost to the Blazers, who now enter a six-game homestand.

There are no CHL games scheduled for 2-5-06 or 2-6-06, Enjoy Super Bowl Sunday

CHL Games for Tuesday, 2-7-06(All times local)
Youngstown @ Tulsa Tue, Feb 07 10:30 am
Corpus Christi @ Bossier-Shreveport Tue, Feb 07 7:05 pm
Lubbock @ Oklahoma City Tue, Feb 07 7:05 pm
Odessa @ Fort Worth Tue, Feb 07 7:30 pm