In the final game of the 3-in-3 series in Amarillo, TX, the Bulls were trying to capture their fifth-straight win, which would tie their longest streak of the season. As for New Mexico they were trying to avoid their fifth-straight loss. Yesterday was the fifth game between these two South Division foes, and each game the winner has won via shutout. For the first time however Max Gutjahr was in between the pipes for Amarillo instead of Charlie Glockner. Glockner played on Friday and Saturday, and recorded a shutout each night giving him a league high of six. New Mexico started Henrik Laursen, who played on Friday and recorded 42 saves in the 1-0 loss.
To begin the final game of the weekend series at the Budweiser Bull Pen, the Ice Wolves knew they had to pressure Gutjahr from the moment the puck dropped. While they only registered six shots through the first period, their play was reminiscent of the first period from Friday when they recorded 11 shots. For the second straight night Amarillo scored a goal in the opening period. Their goal came while they were on their first man-advantage of the game after their captain, Mat Allen, sent a back door pass to Adam Kolcon (2). Kolcon was able to slip the puck right past the outreached right leg of Laursen. Amarillo went into the locker room after the first period with 13 shots and up, 1-0.
In the middle frame is when both teams started to find their groove. New Mexico put up nine shots giving them 15 through 40 minutes. They had 15 shots when the horn sounded to end the game on Saturday. The Bulls put up one more shot than they did the period before (14). However one of their shots came with a lot of controversy. There was barely five minutes elapsed in the second period before players from both teams crashed Laursen’s net. With players on top of him and the net slightly off its peg, there was no whistle to halt play until all of a sudden the goal light was lit and Amarillo started celebrating. The goal would stand and was credited to Joshua Burke (2).
For the second straight night the Bulls started the final period of regulation up by a pair. New Mexico was certainly not backing down and using what happened in the previous period to fuel them. They peppered Gutjahr ten times during the third period giving them 25 shots on the night. Amarillo put up their most shots in a period at 17, bringing them to 44 when the game was over. Just like the night before the Ice Wolves pulled their goalie in hopes of producing a goal with the extra attacker out on the ice. Even with all their last second rushes they were not able to get the frozen rubber past Gutjahr, giving him his first shutout of the season. Final score read 2-0 Amarillo.
Yesterday marked the first time since Oct. 4-5 (vs. LOS) that the Ice Wolves were held off the score sheet for a weekend series. This weekend the Ice Wolves will host the Bulls on Dec. 20-21. To secure your tickets for our final home games of 2019 click here.