Lone Star Brahmas – Corpus Christi Icerays Preview For Mar 11
By Kirk Estes
The Lone Star Brahmas will close out their regular season schedule with the Corpus Christi Icerays this Wednesday at the American Bank Center. Lone Star moved to the top of the heap in the NAHL South Division this weekend with a sweep of the Icerays on home ice combined with Topeka being swept by Amarillo. The Brahmas hold a 5 – 1 – 1 record against Corpus Christi and will be looking to make it four wins in a row over the Icerays.
09/27/14 – Brahmas 1 at Icerays 2
10/10/14 – Icerays 2 at Brahmas 3 OT
10/11/14 – Icerays 2 at Brahmas 5
02/06/15 – Brahmas 2 at Icerays 3 SO
02/07/15 – Brahmas 5 at Icerays 3
03/06/15 – Icerays 1 at Brahmas 4
03/07/15 – Icerays 2 at Brahmas 3
This past Friday the Brahmas used their prototypical strong third period to take game one of a two game set against the Icerays. Ludvig Larsson got things going with a power play goal early in the first. The game then went over 42 minutes with no one hitting the twine until AJ Vanderbeck scored on a nifty penalty shot at 5:09 of the third. Alexey Solovyev added his first of two goals on the night just past the midpoint of the period for a three goal lead. Corpus Christi’s Logan Gestro cut into the lead scoring the Icerays only goal of the night, but Solovyev followed with a shorthanded empty netter to seal the deal. TJ Black made 23 saves for the victory while Andrew Lindgren was saddled with the loss facing 24 shots. Saturday night the Brahmas cruised out to a 3 – 0 lead with first period goals by Larsson and Solovyev to go along with a second period tally by Captain Sebastian Vidmar who scored his league leading 29th of the season. Corpus Christi was not going to go away quietly though as Taylor Karel scored just 45 seconds into the third followed by a Frankie Melton goal at 6:50 to pull within one. However, the Brahmas clamped down on defense and preserved the one goal margin of victory despite a 44 second 6 on 4 extra attacker power play for the Icerays to close out the contest. Jake Kupsky got the call in net for the Brahmas and took the win allowing two goals on 18 shots. Luke Pickar opened the game in goal for the Icerays, but was quickly yanked after allowing two goals on two shots faced. Lindgren came on in relief and held the Brahmas to one goal on 22 shots.
| Last 5 Games | W | L | OTL | Pts |
| Brahmas | 5 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Icerays | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
Special Teams
Lone Star and Corpus Christi are 7th and 8th overall in the NAHL on the power play. The Brahmas come in at 21.12% on 53 goals in 251 opportunities. The Icerays are not far behind at 19.91% with 45 goals in 226 chances. However, it’s on the penalty kill where the Brahmas shine and hold sizable advantage over Corpus Christi. Lone Star is currently 2nd overall in the league at 88.38% having allowed 28 goals on 241 kills. The Icerays on the other hand have allowed 48 goals on 252 opponent’s power plays for 80.95% which is 16th in the league.
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On the road the Brahmas’ power play is setting at 19.5% on 22 goals in 113 opportunities which has them ranked 8th in the league. They will be up against a Corpus Christi home penalty kill that is 11th in the league at 83.8% allowing 25 goals on 111 penalty kills.
With a man in the box, Lone Star’s road penalty kill is ranked 4th in the NAHL at 86.7%. They have allowed 15 goals on 113 kills. The Icerays home power play unit is 10th in the league after scoring 17 times in 97 opportunities or 17.5%
Head to head this season the Brahmas are 6 – 36 on the power play while the Icerays are 2 – 33. Lone Star also has two shorthanded goals scored against Corpus Christi.
Goaltending Comparison Last 5 Games
| W | L | OTL | SO | GA | GAA | SV | SV% | |
| Brahmas | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1.40 | 116 | .943 |
| Icerays | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 4.20 | 110 | .840 |
Who is Hot (Last 5 Games)
| Brahmas | G | A | Pts |
| Ludvig Larsson | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Sebastian Vidmar | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Oskar Andren | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Alexey Solovyev | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Two Tied at | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Icerays | G | A | Pts |
| Tanner Lomsnes | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Wes Michaud | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| Mason Kreuger | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Travis Howe | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Ryan Cusin | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Inside the Game
The Brahmas have climbed to the top of the NAHL South Division and Second overall in the league behind only Janesville. Corpus Christi remains is the highest ranked team to not yet clinch a playoff spot at 9th overall in the league.
With a 2.15 GAA the Brahmas are setting at 2nd in the league. In addition they have the 5th best Save Percentage at .911 and they allow the 2nd fewest Shots on Goal averaging 24.19 per game. Corpus Christi is 19th with a 3.25 GAA, 17th with an .891 Save Percentage and allow an average of 29.83 Shots on Goal which is 14th.
The Brahmas have the 5th most potent offense average 3.49 Goals Per Game compared to the Icerays at 3.13 Goals Per Game good for 11th.
TJ Black holds down the 3rd spot among goalies with a 1.91 GAA while Jake Kupsky is 7th with a 2.20 GAA. Corpus Christi’s Andrew Lindgren is 26th with a 2.94 GAA.
Sebastian Vidmar, Ludvig Larsson and Roman Uchyn all have four goals apiece against the Icerays. Alexey Solovyev leads defensemen with three. For the Icerays, Tanner Lomsnes, Nic LaBurn and Frankie Melton have two goals apiece against the Brahmas. They are the only member of the Corpus Christi roster with multiple goals against Lone Star.
Lone Star has at least one skater ranked in the top 6 in each offensive category. Goals: Vidmar 29 with is 1st, Assists: Vidmar with 44 is 2nd, Points: Vidmar with 73 is 1st, +/-: Vidmar with a +34 is 2nd, Power Play Goals: Larsson with 10 is 5th, Power Play Assists: Larsson with 18 is 3rd, Short Handed Goals: Solovyev with 3 is 4th, Short Handed Assists: Larsson with 2 is 6th, Game Winning Goals: Vidmar with 9 is 1st.
Three of the NAHL’s leaders in defenseman scoring will be represented. Anthony Cortese’s 55 points leads the league while Alexey Solovyev with 32 points is 10th and Anton Santesson with 27 points is 16th.
Travis Howe is the league leader in PIMs with 217 and majors with 7. Liam Stirtzinger leads the Brahmas with 127 PIMs.
The Brahmas have points in every game in which they were tied or held a lead after two periods, going 33 – 0 – 6 in those contests. They are 28 – 3 – 5 when scoring first.
Ludvig Larsson, Alexey Solovyev and Mason Kreuger were all named Honorable Mention in the NAHL Easton Hockey Star of the Week voting.