Purple Cows, Here We Come!

Hello fellow Jackalope fans!  The regular season has concluded, the playoffs are literally just a few days away, and isn't it fitting that the Jacks opponent in the first round of the playoffs will be none other than... wait for it... the Texas Brahmas!  That's right, the same Texas Brahmas that the Jacks have played in the playoffs the last two seasons in a row.  Texas took round one with a knockout blow in game seven of the conference finals during the 2009 playoffs, while the Jacks took round two last postseason after coming back from being down 0-2 in the seven game series only to come back and win the next four straight to eliminate the purple cows from playoff contention.  Now it's time for the decisive round three, as this will probably be the last time that these two teams ever face each other as the Jacks have made it official that they are moving to the NAHL next season, while the Brahmas future is still up in the air (although many Brahma fans believe Texas will be moving to the SPHL).  It would be a great story if the Jacks somehow manage to finally bring home that elusive Ray Miron President's Cup, and a departing middle finger to Duane Lewis and the CHL would only be fitting as the Jacks will say good-bye to pro hockey after fourteen years, primarily (at least in my opinion) because of Mr. Lewis running the Central Hockey League straight into the ground.  But, that's a totally different story, and I want to focus on the first round of the playoffs for the Jacks in this post.

  So, lets go ahead and have some fun with this soon-to-be-played series, shall we?  First, lets start off with the bad news.  The bad news is that Texas won the regular season series against the Jacks, as the Jacks only managed to go 3-5-1 against the Brahmas in the 2010-2011 CHL regular season.  That said, the Jacks did win the last meeting between the two teams in the regular season at the ECC by a final of 7-3 just a few weeks ago.  The other bad news for the Jacks is that Texas has the home ice advantage, and everybody knows that the NYTEX Sports Centre is a very tough building to win at.  But, the Jacks have had success there, especially during last season's playoffs, so if the Jacks can in the very least split the first two games at the NYTEX to start the series, then I really like their chances to seal the deal, so to speak, at the Ector County Coliseum the following Tuesday and Thursday. 

Now lets move on to the good news, before I give a list of the key elements for an Odessa Jackalope series win against the Brahmas.  The good news is that the Jacks have been hot as of late, while the Brahmas have been stone cold.  Lets back up this claim with some numbers.  In the Jacks last ten games they had a record of 7-2-1.  Meanwhile, in the bulls last ten games they went 2-8-0.  You want to go back even a little further?  In the Jacks last fifteen games they went 10-4-1, while the Brahmas went 5-10-0 in their last fifteen.  So, based on those numbers it clearly shows that the Jacks have been playing very good hockey over the last month or so, while the Brahmas have been playing pretty poor, inconsistent hockey.  As we all know, though, the playoffs are a totally different animal, and the Jacks can't underestimate this Texas Brahmas team, especially when they have home ice advantage.  Before I get to my list, I would like to throw a couple more numbers your way to show what direction both the Jacks and Brahmas seem to be heading.  In the Jacks last five games, they have scored 19 goals while giving up 11 for a goal differential of +8.  Conversely, in the Brahmas last five games they have scored 18 goals, but they also gave up 23 for a goal differential of -5.

Now lets get to my list of key elements in order for the Jacks to win the series against Texas:

• The Jacks must shut down, or at least limit the scoring of the Brahmas top line which consists of Deitsch, Woollard, and Hogeboom.  Those three players have accounted for a HUGE chunk of Texas' scoring against the Jacks this season, so if the Jacks are able to shut these guys down, then I really, really like their chances.
• The Jacks must (in the very least) split the first two games at the NYTEX Sports Centre to kick off the series.  If the Jacks head home down 0-2, it will be very difficult for them to win the next three straight, especially with game five (if necessary) being played in North Richland Hills.  But, if the Jacks can split the first two games and head to the ECC for the next two games, then I really like the Jacks chances.
• The Jacks need to keep the NYTEX Sports Centre as quiet as possible.  You may be thinking: How do the Jacks do that?  The answer is very simple.  Score early and score often.  Take the fans out of the game early, and you should be just fine.  If not, I personally know how loud and crazy it can get in the "Shoebox," (as Greg Rajan likes to call their arena).  Lets just say I have never left the NYTEX Sports Centre without a throbbing headache.
• Say it with me everybody:  DEFENSE!  If the Jacks play good defensively, and limit their turnovers in their own zone, then they should be successful.  The good news here is that the Jacks have been good defensively over the last month or so, so hopefully that trend will continue into the playoffs.  If it doesn't, however, then the Jacks will undoubtedly get burnt by the Brahmas.
• The Jacks goaltending has to be solid and consistent.  With Mole and Martin (or the M&M boys as some Jackalope fans now like to call them) being our goaltending tandem in the playoffs, I really feel confident.  Mole has been great since joining the Jacks, and I feel much more confident with Martin in between the pipes for us as opposed to McKee.  That's not meant to be a knock on McKee, but the simple fact of the matter is that Martin is a veteran goaltender that has playoff, but more importantly championship experience at this level of hockey.  Not to mention Martin looked pretty solid in the Jacks last regular season game against the Mudbugs, picking up the win while allowing only two goals on twenty-eight Bossier shots on goal.
• After Dan Wildfong "physically abused" both a referee and a linesemen the other night when they lost to Rio Grande Valley, I'm expecting (this is just a guess on my part) at least a four game suspension for Wildthong.  If he misses the series against the Jacks, then you take away the "Wildfong factor" from the bulls.  Say what you will about the guy, but I don't think anybody doubts his ability to really light a fire under his team.  If he's not behind the bench against the Jacks, that should mean good things for the Jacks.  By the way, I'm not predicting this potential suspension to be a major factor in the outcome of the series... I just think it can only mean good things for the Jacks should Wildfong not be behind the bench for the Brahmas.
• And finally, I'm expecting (although it has not been confirmed if either of these guys will return for the playoffs) Dominic Leveille and Dave Van Drunen to be back for the Jacks in the postseason.  Leveille is a definite scoring threat every time he hits the ice, while DVD is arguably the best defensive defenseman in the entire CHL.  Not to mention the Jacks always seem to play better with Van Drunen in the lineup.  Also, Bourbeau and Martin have been assigned back to the Jacks by Bridgeport, so that's more good news for us as Martin should bring stability in net for us, while Bourbs brings a much needed physical element to the team.

Now that I've shared my list with you all, I will conclude this post with my prediction on the outcome of the series between the Jacks and Brahmas.  I think the Jacks split the first two games at the NYTEX Sports Centre, but then come home to the ECC to win the next two straight.  I predict the Jacks win this series in four games.  All signs seem to show the Jacks as more than capable of winning this series, but of course the game is played on the ice, and the boys have to be hungry to be successful in the playoffs.  We Jackalope fans know that they are more than capable of going all the way, but that means absolutely nothing if the boys don't believe in themselves.  Something tells me, though, that the Jacks will be just fine.  With that said, I'm going to go ahead and wrap things up here.  As much as I'd love to blog again this weekend after the two games in North Richland Hills are played, I highly doubt I will be able to as I have a test on Friday at UTPB, and I also have to take a test on the internet on Sunday, so I'll definitely be busy with school this weekend.  But, be sure to check The Enforcer early next week for any and all updates pertaining to the Jacks playoff run.


Until next time Jackalope fans all I have to say is GO JACKS GO!!! and lets feast on some purple burgers beginning Thursday night!