Wildcats vs. Bandits live blog, October 4

Hey everyone, coming to you from the Hardee's Iceplex in Chesterfield, MO, we'll be live blogging this one. Unfortunately due to some technical issues (namely a broken cord), we have no B2 broadcast. Additionally, our internet deal back in Wichita Falls doesn't start until October 24, for the home opener.

So, if you're going to be reading along, welcome to the party. Keep hitting your refresh button and new updates will appear just below this intro. So if you are reading this after the fact, read from the bottom of this blog upward.

Questions, comments, feel free to IM me. I'm on AIM, screen name is WildcatsHockey73.

9:41 pm - That's all she wrote! Wildcats fall 5-2, hopefully we'll have the B2 Networks up and running tomorrow, but if not, I will have coverage here once again.

9:40 pm - Empty net for the Cats, McKenzie (boarding) and Coffey (cross-checking) off for matching minors.

9:37 pm - A Bandit goes to the box, and the Wildcats get another power play goal! Shaun Jameson completes the Gordie Howe Hat Trick with a goal, with the assist to Erlacher. 5-3 now, just over a minute to go!

9:32 pm - Matching minors to Delaurell and Greco for roughing.

9:31 pm - Hill with a chance, but couldn't quite elevate the puck enough to get it past an outstretched Kincaid.

9:26 pm - Karlsson and Sponseller go 2 on 1, but can't quite connect with Karlsson's saucer pass being in the air as Sponseller tries to get it but misses.

9:24 pm - Delaurell from Jameson and Hartung is the official scoring.

9:22 pm - 5 on 3 for the Wildcats now as Hill's penalty expires, and the Wildcats score! Details coming.

9:19 pm - Out of the frying pan, into the fire. Hill off for tripping, Brown gets a 10 for arguing it (Shost was announced, I thought it was Cahill, but Brown is what the boxscore says). A minute in, it gets evened up with Reinthaler going off for interference. We skate 4 on 4. Hamburg runs Graveline, discussions ensue. Hamburg gets two for roughing, so it's 4 on 3, Wildcats on the PP.

9:16 pm - The onslaught continues. Bandits make it 5-1. Oy vey.

9:14 pm - Right off a faceoff, Thomas Erlacher shows some fistic abilities to go along with his clutch goal scoring! Erlacher and Nunn square off, with the Italian taking a pretty clear victory!

9:12 pm - Kaneshiro's shot has eyes and gets through some traffic, but the Cats can't quite find the rebound.

9:09 pm - Bandits score again, puck fed in front to Soren Jonzzen on the doorstep, and he puts it in for a 4-1 Bandits lead.

9:04 pm - After a long delay and some technical issues (I hate Blogger's platform, for the record), we're about to get the 3rd period underway. As I've tried to write five times now, Bandits scored again, Graveline was screened by his own man. Jameson and Bourgonje fought, edge to Jameson. Third period is underway, Bandits with the lead 3-1 and advantage in shots on goal, 31-22.

8:38 pm - No luck, courtesy of a missed pass for an offside, an icing call, and some sloppy play in the offensive end. Back to 5 on 5.

8:33 pm - Back on the power play we go as Nunn goes off for hooking!

8:26 pm - He's back! Sean McKenzie, making his 2008-09 debut, goes freight train on Kyle Greco!

8:25 pm - GREAT chance in front as the penalty expires, Cahill's shot gets stopped, rebound comes right to Sponseller, no one near him except for a perfectly squared up goalie. Sponseller tried to delay his shot and find an opening, but Kincaid made the save, Hoffman swatted it away, and the Bandits had a great chance of their own snuffed out by Graveline at the other end.

8:20 pm - 2 on 1 for the Bandits leads to their second goal, Klein from Nunn. Right off the face off, Cats go on the PP as Delaurell gets knocked to the ice. Interference is the call on STL's Hudson.

8:18 pm - Bandits score, Bourbonais from the point on the power play, assist to Edwards. We're tied at 1 and back to 5 on 5 hockey.

8:16 pm - Backdoor chance for the Bandits, but it rolls off the forward's stick. Good job by the Wildcats in forcing the puck to stay wide for the most part.

8:15 pm - WF penalty, Trotman four minutes for high sticking as he left a Bandit bleeding. If there's ever a time for the PK unit to come up big, it's now.

8:14 pm - Back to 5 on 5, Cats 1 for 3 on the PP tonight with 3 SOG.

8:14 pm - Wildcats had a lot of trouble getting it out of their own zone to start the period with STL a man down. Great chance for Delaurell from the slot, but it hits the post!

8:10 pm - About ready to get the second period underway, Wildcats still with 1:32 of PP time as they switch ends of the ice. SOG in the first, 13-12 in favor of the Bandits, but the Cats lead 1-0!

7:53 pm - End of 1, Wildcats lead 1-0!

7:52 pm - Wildcats score on the power play! Goal goes to McNeil with 28 seconds left in the period. Assists are tallied by Delaurell and Jameson. Also, Hoffman of STL to the box for a cross-check so the Cats stay on the PP!

7:51 pm - Kincaid kicks out a HUGE rebound, pass for Karlsson just missed connecting on what would have been a Wildcats PPG.

7:51 pm - Another Wildcats chance on the PP, Sheehan off two minutes for a high stick.

7:50 pm - Nice hit at the blue line by STL's Edwards on Jameson as he tried to come in 3 on 3. And then another great Graveline save off a shot from in close by Greco.

7:47 pm - Good efforts at the offensive end by the Wildcats, but nothing doing on the scoreboard. Then a 3 on 2 for the Bandits, and a stick save by Graveline!

7:43 pm - Bandits with a great chance 2 on 1 with Kaneshiro the lone man back, but Trotman gets in to help and the shot goes wide.

7:42 pm - Quick shot by the Bandits' Kirchhevel, but Graveline shuts the door, rebound cleared out by the defense.

7:41 pm - Bandits with the SOG advantage 7-6, still no score with 8:10 to go in the first.

7:38 pm - Wildcats chance as they get to even strength, nice shot by Hill, but it was gloved and held by Kincaid.

7:37 pm - Hartung blocks the shot and clears the zone. And now back to five on five!

7:36 pm - Scramble in front covered up by Graveline. Bandits managing 2 shots on goal on the PP so far with a minute remaining on it.

7:35 pm - Brown to the box two for slashing, Cats on the PK.

7:35 pm - BIG save! Graveline going post to post with the Bandits setting up a little backdoor play with a pass across the crease. Still no score.

7:34 pm - Penalty killed, 'Cats manage one shot on goal during the man advantage.

7:32 pm - Wildcats power play, as STL gets called for too many men. Hamburg serves.

7:30 pm - Five minutes in, both teams looking good and pretty evenly matched thus far. SOG 3-2 in WF's favor, but no great chances for either team.

7:27 pm - Wildcats did a good job of controlling the puck in the Bandits end, but a rush the other way showed St. Louis' prowess at using this Olympic sized ice sheet. No shots on goal for either team two minutes into the first.

7:25 pm - We're underway! The Bandits control the opening faceoff.

7:20 pm - The Wildcats' starters have been announced, and now out come the Bandits. With this being their home opener, the entire roster is being announced. For the record, ref tonight is Welker, linesmen are Bextermueller and Bokal.

7:15 pm - Just a look at some special teams numbers, Wildcats currently have the top power play unit in the NAHL (11/33, 33.3%), while the Bandits have the #3 penalty killing unit (40/44, 90.91%). The Bandit power play is 14th in the league, only 5 for 44 so far, 11.36%. The Wildcats' penalty kill is 7th in the league, 20/23 for 86.96% efficiency. The Wildcats have done a good job of staying out of the box so far this year and have taken advantage of opponents' penalties. Judging by these teams' games last year (you may recall a few fights between these squads, including the goalies going at it on December 7), this could be an important factor.

7:05 pm - We're about 10 minutes from the start of player introductions. Lines, as far as I could tell from warmups are as follows (starters in bold):

Wichita Falls
Karlsson - Rourke - Sponseller
Erlacher - McKenzie - Hartung
Browne - McNeil - Delaurell
Brown - Cahill - Hill

Kaneshiro - Trotman
Heinz - Shost
Jameson - Nash

Graveline
Jarboe


St. Louis (note: not sure who are wingers and who are centers, nor what order these lines go in)
Bourgonje - Olszewski - Klein
Cifelli - Jonzzon - Hudson
Greco - B. Sheehan - Kirchhevel
Gorczyca - Bourbonais - Hamburg

Reinthaler - Quick
Edwards - Coffey
Nunn - Hoffman

Kincaid
Cinotti