TOPEKA, KS – The Lone Star Brahmas started the 2017 portion of their schedule with a bang, beating the Topeka RoadRunners 4-2 on Friday night.
It was the Peter Kessel show at the Kansas Expocentre for the 664 fans in attendance as the Brahmas secured their 25th win of the season.
In the first period, the Brahmas charged into the offensive zone with a 3-on-2 rush. Drake Glover sent a pass to Austin Kamer who rifled a shot on net. Goaltender Ben Churchfield gave up a juicy rebound for Peter Kessel who punched it in the back of the net to give the Brahmas a 1-0 lead just over three minutes into the first.
After a couple of scares in the defensive side, including Jordan Wishman blocking a shot at the goal line, Peter Kessel and the Brahmas struck again. A broken play at the RoadRunners blue line gave the puck right to the tape of Kamer. It was a Michigan combo to the near circle and Kessel snapped it home over the glove of Churchfield to make it 2-0 before the end of the first.
Kessel was not quite done, just over one minute into the second period, he capped off a hat trick with a wide open, cross-ice tap in on a pass from Glover. However, the Brahmas 3-0 lead did not last very long.
Seconds after the media timeout, the RoadRunners applied pressure at the corner board after an offensive zone face-off. Nick Granowicz stripped Alex Stoley of the puck and centered it to Marshall Bowery who banged it home for the ‘Runners first of the contest.
Three minutes into the third period, again off an offensive zone draw, Topeka cycled the puck to Jack DeMatteo who whistled a one-timer wide of Calvaruso’s net. Behind the goal line, Max Harper shoveled the puck off the back of Calvaruso’s pads to angle the puck into the net making it a 3-2 game.
The home team put a ton of pressure in the Brahmas zone and Calvaruso made a couple of impressive saves to keep Lone Star on top. Calvo ended the game with 16 saves.
With 6:35 to play in regulation, Justin Addamo took advantage of a turnover at the offensive blue line. He stripped the puck, sent it to Julian Biondo on the right wing and Biondo scored his fourth goal of the season as it ricocheted off the goalie’s glove and in.
The Brahmas went on to win 4-2, increasing their win streak to four straight games. Meanwhile, the RoadRunners have lost six straight home games.
Lone Star is looking for the sweep Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Catch the action online at HockeyTV.com.