The Lone Star Brahmas will face off against the Wichita Falls Wildcats at the NYTEX Sports Centre on Friday and Saturday with one point separating them in the NAHL South Division standings. The series will be the first meeting between the teams since October 4, but will certainly not be the last. The Brahmas will see the Wildcats six times over their final 22 games including a Wednesday tilt in Wichita Falls.
In their two previous meetings in Wichita Falls the Brahmas came out with three of a possible four points losing in overtime in game one before rebounding for a comfortable win in game two.
10/03/14 – Brahmas 2 at Wildcats 3 OT
10/04/14 – Brahmas 5 at Wildcats 1
Lone Star had this past weekend off after going 2 – 1 – 0 against the Topeka Roadrunners and Amarillo Bulls the week before.
The Wildcats are coming off an eight game home stand that saw them welcome the Corpus Christi Icerays last week. On Thursday night, Wichita Falls jumped out to a 2 – 1 lead through the first on power play goals by Austin Beaulieu and Jake Townsend. In fact the first five goals of the game came on the man advantage. Colin Staub scored for the home team in the second and they took a one goal lead into the third. Townsend notched his second early in the third followed by a Konstantin Chernyukgoal while Corpus Christi scored twice as well for the 5 – 4 Wildcats win. Austin Shawmade four saves on 30 shots faced for the win. Friday night the score was the same, but the outcome was reversed. Wichita Falls broke through with three in the middle frame on goals by Kevin Charyszyn, Max Reisinger and Nick Farmer. However, the Icerays found the back of the net four times in the period to carry a 5 – 3 lead into the third. Tommy Apap pulled the Wildcats within one but they could get no closer. David Zevnik got the start in net for Wichita Falls and allowed four goals on 13 shots faced before being replaced by Shaw. Shaw took the tough luck loss allowing one goal on five shots faced.
| Last 5 Games |
W |
L |
OTL |
Pts |
| Brahmas |
3 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
| Wildcats |
2 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
Special Teams
Lone Star has struggled on the power play of late scoring just five goals on 40 opportunities in their last ten games. All five of the goals scored came against Odessa whose penalty kill ranks 21st in the league. As a result the Brahmas power play has slipped to 20.7% or 9th in the league. Fortunately, their penalty kill has continued to perform at a high level an remain 4th in the league at 87.3%. Wichita Falls’ power play is pacing the NAHL at 27.3%. Their penalty kill on the other hand comes in at 18th in the league at 80.3%.
At home, the Brahmas’ power play is slightly better than their overall at 22.4% on 24 goals in 107 opportunities good for 7th in the league. They will have a chance to get off the schneid against a Wildcats’ road penalty kill unit that has allowed 12 goals in 54 times short handed or 77.8% which ranks 19th.
Lone Star’s home penalty kill is ranked 3rd allowing only 11 goals on 99 kills or 88.9%%. They will be facing a strong Wichita Falls road power play which is tops in the league scoring 16 times in 55 opportunities or 29.1%
In their two head to head meetings, the Brahmas are 2 for 10 on the power play while holding Wichita Falls to 1 for 11.
Goaltending Comparison Last 5 Games
| W | L | OTL | SO | GA | GAA | SV | SV% | |
| Brahmas | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 2.60 | 109 | .893 |
| Wildcats | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 2.60 | 111 | .895 |
Who is Hot (Last 5 Games)
| Brahmas | G | A | Pts |
| Sebastian Vidmar | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Oskar Andren | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| Roman Uchyn | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Alexey Solovyev | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Quinn Carroll | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Wildcats | G | A | Pts |
| Nick Farmer | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Kevin Charyszyn |
|