by Kirk Estes
The Lone Star Brahmas welcomed the division leading Amarillo Bulls into the NYTEX Sports Centre for their final home series of the season. As if facing the league's number one offense was not enough, the Brahmas hit the ice with only four defensemen dressed due to illness and injury.
Following a scoreless first period Amarillo came out and snuck one past TJ Black on a rebound in tight off the stick of Brady Ferguson (Mike Davis) at the 1:59 mark.
It took the Brahmas only 56 seconds to respond when Thomas Aldworth picked off a pass near the defensive blue line and blew past the defense before putting it top shelf on Paul Berrafato who had no chance.
With just 3:56 to go in the period and the knob of Black's stick stuck in the net Joe Grabowski (Matt Seickhaus, Tyler Gernhofer) took advantage sending one past the Brahmas netminder.
Things were fairly even in the third and then with just three seconds to go in regulation and an empty net for the Brahmas, Nick Blase hit Kellen Wasell coming off the bench with a stretch pass and he went flying in on Berrafato. Wasell was patient and sent it past him stick side. The game went through a scoreless overtime and into a shootout.
Amarillo Coach Dennis Williams made a rather strange coaching move and pulled Berrafato in favor of Colin Delia. Amarillo shot first and was stoned with the pad. Matt Lison was up first for the Brahmas and immediately put it five-hole on Delia. Black came up big with the glove to protect the one goal lead on the Bulls second shooter. Aldworth was on deck for Lone Star in round two and went high glove side for the two goal margin which was all the Brahmas would need as Black denied the next two Bulls attempts for the win.
