NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX – The Lone Star Brahmas (13-2- 1) return home with the longest current winning streak in the league at eight games. The Brahmas could make it ten in a row with their two upcoming games against the Topeka RoadRunners (6-10- 0) this weekend.
The ‘Runners are back in Brahmaland just two weeks after their first visit on October 21st. In that two game series, Lone Star handled Topeka easily in a 4-1 win on the first night, but needed a shootout to break a 1-1 tie for the second game.
Brahmas goaltender Erik Gordon stopped 23 of 24 shots from Topeka and stopped three of four attempts in the shootout.
The RoadRunners played the Shreveport Mudbugs on October 23rd, but without any games this past weekend, have been idle since. Meanwhile, Lone Star went off to Odessa, outscoring the Jackalopes 12-2 in a three-game series.
Forwards Drake Glover and Carson Kelley were dynamic, combining for nine points in the triple-header. Peter Kessel also had himself a nice series, tallying an assist in every game and a goal in the final contest. Hunter Stanley led all Brahmas with five assists over the same stretch.
After their explosive weekend, Glover (11G, 6A) and Kelley (5G, 12A) share the team lead in points with 17. Kessel (6G, 10A) is right behind them with 16 points. All three forwards are operating at a point-per-game clip.
The RoadRunners have been in a scoring drought lately, with only three goals in their last three games. They will be looking to get back on track with the help of their top scorers, veterans Marcus Russell (7G-9A-16PTS) and Andrew Hart (5G-10A-15PTS). Russell will be hoping to pick up where he left off, as he scored Topeka’s only regulation goal in their shootout loss two weeks ago.
From a defensive perspective, Lone Star continues to be one of the top teams in the league. With only 30 goals against in 16 games, the Brahmas are second in the league with 1.875 goals against per game.
The Lone Star goaltending duo of Alec Calvaruso and Erik Gordon continues to impress, combining for a GAA of 1.61 and a .934 save percentage. The two rookie netminders are a perfect 13-0- 0 on the season.
Though Topeka currently sits seventh and last in the South Division standings, any points to the RoadRunners would be a huge boom. The third and seventh place spots in the division are only separated by three points (a game and a half), meaning a ‘Runners sweep could prop them up significantly. Lone Star, earning 27 of a possible 32 points, has a tight hold on the top spot in the division, leading the second-place Mudbugs by eight points.
The series marks the beginning of a four-game homestand at the NYTEX Sports Center. Tickets are available online or by calling the box office at (817) 336-4423. Use the promo code “DOG” upon checkout online for $1 Terrace tickets to Friday night’s game.