NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX – The Topeka RoadRunners put up a five spot in the first period, spoiling the Brahmas Blue Out early en route to a 6-1 win.
The first 20 minutes were the worst one of the season for the team, allowing the five goals. That number not only was the highest they have allowed in a period this season, but additionally the most goals they’ve allowed in a single game thus far this season. Dominic Lutz opened the scoring just two minutes in and before the first five were over, JB Baker and Shawn Brennan joined the club as well. Conor O’Brien’s night ended just 4:56 in and unfortunately Corbin Kaczperski didn’t fair much better in the remainder.
Leading scorer Alex Berardinelli couldn’t help his team in the scoring department through the contest because he was awarded a double-minor and game ejection for checking from behind late in the first. On the ensuing two power play chances for the Runners, both Dom Lutz and Marshall Bowery cashed in, extending their team’s lead to 5-0 to conclude the first.
In a more stereotypical second frame, both teams picked up a goal but to start, Andrew Hart put Topeka up by half a dozen. The “bleeding” was stopped when Tomas Brejcha tallied his seventh of the season after cleaning up Tyler Drevitch’s scraps, making it 6-1.
The third period was covered more so by physicality than scoring, seeing a plethora of flights from the two sides. Carson Kelley and Johnny Walker got tangled up after a whistle late in the frame, thus resulting in the first fight and within the same sequence Bud Madej and Andrew Hart went at it as well. All four men were sent to the dressing room, thus largely concluding the action for the evening.
Conor O’Brien suffers the loss for the Brahmas in his sixth of the season.
Tomorrow night the two teams will square off yet again in the final home game of the regular season. Tickets are still available on LoneStarBrahmas.com, over the phone at 817-336-4ICE, or at the box office beginning at 10 A.M. Prior to tomorrow's puck drop, come join the Brahmas at ZuRoma inside NYTEX Sports Centre for the unvileing of the Kraft Hockeyville 2016 finalists, a contest in which NYTEX has potential to be named.