Scorpions drop 3rd straight game

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Having started the week only three points behind Arizona in the Southwest Division standings after winning eight straight contests, New Mexico is now seven points back headed into Tuesday’s home contest with Arizona. Maybe it is a lucky seven, as the Scorpions open a season-long seven game homestand with the 7:15 p.m. contest at the Santa Ana Star Center.

The good news is that the Scorpions are still solidly in the playoffs, with a nine-point lead over Corpus Christi for the fourth and final spot in conference postseason play. But they need to start playing better if they have any hope of advancing toward the Ray Miron Cup.

New Mexico did show a spark in the last 89 seconds of the game, as David Simoes and Vladimir Hartinger received fighting instigator penalties, with Simoes earning a game misconduct sanction. The two Scorpions earned 56 minutes for various fighting and roughing penalties for the incident compared to 10 for the two Amarillo players they locked up with.

Amarillo’s Bill Vandermeer victimized New Mexico goalie Andrew Martin for three goals and three assists. The only goal he didn’t have a hand in was an unassisted tally by Matt Miller that made the score 4-2.

Craig Macdonald and Konrad Reeder scored New Mexico’s goals.

After Tuesday’s game, the Scorpions will offer an “All You Can Eat Weekend Special” where fans get a corner seat plus all the all the hot dogs, sodas, nachos and popcorn they can handle for $20. For ticket information, call 881-PUCK or visit www.scorpionshockey.com.

Complete CHL statistics and standings are available at www.CentralHockeyLeague.com.

Congratulations  to Alex Vigil of Albuquerque who found Stanley the Scorpion under the New Mexico Highlands University advertisement on The SCORE to win the nightly prize. Click here to find out how you can play.