Amarillo, Tx– The Wranglers picked up their seventh win in an eventful 8-to-6 goal-fest against Odessa Friday night.
Amarillo entered the night looking for their first win on home ice this season and looked to snap their two-game skid.
Amarillo would get the scoring started early when Rihards Simanovics threw the puck at the goal and deflected in off the Odessa goalie into the net. Just twenty seconds later, Jacob Halliday would score his first NAHL goal to open up a 2-to-0 lead early in the game. Amarillo would score again on the powerplay when Pierce Patterson scored his first NAHL goal at 11:53 of the period.
Odessa would respond later in the period when Ryan Mansfield beat Carter Clafton to get the Jackalopes on the board. Three minutes later, Tanyon Bajzar would find the back of the net to bring Odessa to within a goal. Bajzar would score again in the closing moments of the opening period to send the teams to the first intermission tied at three goals.
The Wranglers would open up the scoring in the second when Simanovics tallied his second powerplay goal of the night to reclaim the lead for Amarillo. At the 7:44 mark of the period, Dominik Bartecko would score his second of the season to give Amarillo a two-goal lead. Simanovics would complete the hat trick later in the period with his third powerplay goal to give Amarillo a 6-to-3 lead heading into the third.
Odessa would not go away when Josh Austin collected his first NAHL goal just 1:12 into the third period. The Jackalopes would again find the back of the net when Ryan Kelly beat Luca Ganz at 9:13 of the period.
The Wranglers would get an insurance goal when Tommy Chunchukov re-directed a point shot from Jase Sofo. Jack Ivey would also find the back of the net in the final minute with an empty net goal.
Odessa responded with one last goal with seconds remaining when Emerson Goode scored on an odd-man break. The Wranglers would hold on to outlast the Jackalopes in an 8-to-6 final score. Dominik Bartecko would secure a five-point night with four assists and a goal. Simanovics would add two assists for a five-point night, along with his hat trick. Both teams would pull their starting goalies during the game. Luca Ganz earned his fourth win of the season.
The Wranglers improve to 7-1-0-1 and pick up their first win on home ice this season. The Jackalopes saw their three-game win streak end and fall to 4-6-0-1.
Amarillo will look to sweep Odessa Saturday night at the Budweiser Bullpen. All first responders will get in free to Saturday’s game for First Responders Night.