Klempa, Murray lead Bees into tie for third

HIDALGO – As the Killer Bees skated off the State Farm Arena ice following their 3-1 win over the Texas Brahmas, the building’s loudspeakers blared "Takin’ Care of Business." Whether or not that was intentional, it was an apt choice to send the Bees off the rink.

For the second straight night, the Bees and Brahmas combined for a game with a playoff feel. And for the second straight night, the Bees did just enough to pierce the Brahmas’ tight defense, winning their fifth in seven games and pulling even with Texas (15-13-7, 37 points) for third place in the Berry Conference and two ahead of fifth-place Tulsa.

“We’re really happy with that. No question about it,” Bees coach Terry Ruskowski said. “We’re tied with (Texas) and that makes (today’s) game the most important game of all.”

Tomas Klempa scored twice and Zac Pearson added an empty-netter while John Murray had 26 saves to give the Bees (16-13-5, 37 points) another win in what amounted to a four-point game. The Bees can sweep the series with a victory today in North Richland Hills and get into third by themselves.

“We were two points behind them and to catch them, definitely a great weekend,” Klempa said. “Great start to the weekend.”

Klempa heeded the lessons of the tight 3-2 game Friday (and every other matchup with Texas) by getting to the net. His first, at the 6:49 mark of the second, came when he tapped in the rebound of a Scott Balan shot.

His second, which gave the Bees a 2-0 lead 4:05 into the third, was a result of a charge to the net down the right side which he finished by beating goalie Steve Silverthorn for an unassisted tally.

“That’s what he’s been doing lately,” Ruskowski said. “He’s been taking the puck to the net. Obviously, good things are happening because he’s scoring goals.”

Something else that’s been happening lately for the Bees is good goaltending. One night after Wylie Rogers made 35 saves, Murray had his 26, including 11 in the third period as Texas tried to rally in a final 20 minutes that felt similar to Friday’s.

The win also gave Murray a chance to use one of Ruskowski’s favorite sayings.

“It’s one of those (if) we get out ahead of them coming down the stretch and then they’re in our rear-view mirror,” Murray said. “I’m going to use one of (Ruskowski’s) quotes: The windshield is a lot bigger than the rear-view mirror for a reason. Keep looking through the windshield.”

If the Bees can get another win over the Brahmas today, that windshield could have a pretty clear view.

ICING: Aaron Lee played his 223rd regular season game with the Bees, tying Ryan Shmyr for the most in franchise history. … Saturday’s announced crowd of 4,813 was the biggest of the season.

Brian Sandalow covers the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436 or via email at bsandalow@themonitor.com.

Saturday’s Game

KILLER BEES 3, BRAHMAS 1

TEX                            0        0       1     —       1

RGV                           0        1       2     —       3

First period — No goals. Penalties — None.

Second period — 1, RGV, Klempa 15 (Balan) 6:49. Penalties — Klempa, RGV (hooking) 0:56; Wilson, RGV (holding) 4:26; Fontaine, RGV (roughing) 10:14; Lackner, TEX (roughing) 10:14; Burichin, TEX (tripping) 13:12; Ischi, RGV (high-sticking) 19:05.

Third period — 2, RGV, Klempa 16 (unassisted) 4:05; 3, TEX, Hodge 9 (Fox, Kary) 13:06; 4, RGV, Pearson 8 (Lee) 19:39 (en.). Penalties — Rouleau, TEX (tripping) 1:16.

Power-play opportunities: Texas: 0 of 3; RGV: 0 of 2.  

Shots — Texas: 5-10-12--27; RGV: 4-8-7--19.  

Goalies — Texas: Mark Guggenberger (8 shots, 7 saves), Steve Silverthorn 6-9-5 (10 shots, 9 saves); RGV: John Murray 7-7-1 (27 shots, 26 saves).

A — 4,813  T — 2:34

Referee — Peter Tarnaris Linesmen —  Brad Duncan, Aaron Chockla