Bulls edge Jackalopes in overtime on Tuesday, 1-0

January 8, 2014

Odessa Jackalopes 0 @ Amarillo Bulls 1 (OT) - It took the Amarillo Bulls more than 62 minutes, but they managed to break through on Odessa goaltender Eric Hancock on Tuesday night. The game was originally scheduled for December 8th, but was postponed because of bad weather. The Jacks came into the contest winless in last four contests, while the Bulls had won four straight after a six-game losing streak.

 

Roman Ammirato scored 2:29 into overtime to lift the hometown Bulls past the Odessa Jackalopes 1-0 for their 25th win of the season. The victory pushed the Bulls lead in the South Division to six points over second place Topeka RoadRunners.

 

Bulls’ fans saw something really rare. Some of them witnessed 138 minutes in penalties in a rough and tumble game this past Saturday night, and then Tuesday not one penalty was called the entire game.

Goaltender Collin Delia was in rare form, stopping all 16 shots he faced to post his fifth shutout of the season. It was his third shutout in the last two seasons versus the Jackalopes.

 

The two teams battled through a scoreless opening 20 minutes. The Bulls out-chanced the Jackalopes on a 3-1 margin and outshot them, 12-5. Roman Ammirato and Ryan Stevens had the best chances but were denied by goaltender Eric Hancock, who was outstanding on the night.

 

The Amarillo Bulls dominated play in the middle stanza with more scoring opportunities than the visitors, but again the Odessa goaltender Hancock was able to turn them aside. Forward Carter Penzien missed on a great play in front.  The Bulls outshot the Jackalopes 12-4.

 

Odessa came on in the third period and put pressure inside the Bulls’ zone but goaltender Collin Delia was equal to the task and made some nice saves. The Bulls had two terrific opportunities in the stanza with the first one on a scramble in front of the net and the second on a point shot from Adem Arifi that was stopped by the goaltender. Amarillo had a shot 12-7 advantage in the third period.

 

The overtime was fast and furious with the Bulls making the most of their time. Forward Roman Ammirato skated in over the blueline and his backhand shot beat the goaltender on the far post to give the Bulls the win. Brett Szajner and Stuart Pomeroy earned assists on the marker.

 

The Amarillo Bulls outshot the Odessa Jackalopes 39-16 including 3-0 in overtime.