Scorpions grab early lead on Odessa


Continued from Page 1


"The power play is a funny thing. It comes and goes just like the penalty kill," coach Randy Murphy said. "Tonight we were good on both. And that's huge."

Erik Johnson's  power play goal off passes from Konrad Reeder and newly acquired Ross McCain just 2:44 into the game gave New Mexico the lead. An unassisted breakaway by Reeder less than a minute later stretched the margin a minute later.

After Odessa's Mike MacDonald closed the gap to 2-1 with a wraparound goal less at the 15:41 mark, New Mexico's Mitch Stephens slammed home a rebound goal to make New Mexico's lead two goals again. Johnson and Dominic Osman got the assists for New Mexico.

Reeder missed on a golden opportunity to make the margin three goals with 2:51 left in the period but was unable to convert on a penalty shot. Ray Ortiz had a breakaway attempt thwarted by Odessa goalie Alexandre Vincent midway through the second period as well.

Reeder made the score 4-1 with 3:25 left on the period, beating Vincent on his right side on a breakaway to the net. When Alex Dunn cross checked him in the back, Reeder went down to the ice for a moment before regaining his feet and going after Dunn. Both were penalized, but the momentary exchange would lead to the next goal.

When Chris Brannon drew a delay-of-game penalty 23 seconds later for interference, New Mexico had a 4-on-3 advantage. And they capitalized 1:25 into the power play, as Stephens scored again for a 5-1 New Mexico lead.

'Vincent was pulled from goal in favor of Mike Gorman at that point, and showed his emotion by snapping his stick over the crossbar and heaving out to the blue line.

Murphy said the groundwork for Gorman's outburst began at the opening of the game.

"We got off to a good start. We executed what we wanted to do, which was get on their defense quick and pound it," Murphy said. "We didn't have many shots, but the shots we did have were quality and they went in. Anytime you look up at the scoreboard and see five shots, three goals - I don't care what kind of goalie you are, you know you are kind of fighting it. We realized that and kept getting pucks to the net.

"Our mental and physical intensity was something we stressed over the past few days. The last time we played these guys we came out physically and mentally intense and we ended up winning 5-1. We got off to a very similar start tonight, which was the key that we focused on. It made them get off their game. If they're able to get into a rhythm, they're a tough team to beat."

Gorman's outburst earned Odessa a two-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, and New Mexico's much maligned power play came through again. Chris Robertson scored with 1:24 left in the period was New Mexico's third of the night and made the score 6-1 after two periods.

Any thoughts of an Odessa comeback were ended in the first 88 seconds of the final period. McCain had been called for high sticking as the buzzer sounded at the end of the period, so New Mexico started the third stanza a man short. The situation only got worse when David Simones was whisted for tripping, leaving New Mexico at a 5-on-3 disadvantage.

But that didn't bother Robertson, who stepped in front of an Odessa pass and batted it down with his stick, gained control of the puck and raced the length of the ice ahead of potenential Odessa defense in time to beat Gorman topside, making the score 7-1. Moments later the Jackalopes' John Osborne committed a tripping penalty, putting  the Scorpions were at even strength.

"A 5-on-3 goal is very rare," Murphy said. "I think they should change the rule. If you score on a 5-on-3, being the team on three, you should get a guy back. It's a rare thing, and it's a testament to how Chris Robertson is playing. He's playing like a guy possessed. He willed that goal out."

Osborne added a goal with 6:59 left to close out the scoring.

The Scorpions came into the game with a 22-15-5 mark, four points behind the first-place Jackalopes and only three behind second-place Arizona. The Sunddogs rallied to 
defeat Corpus Christi 5-4 in overtime to regain the Southwest Division lead, a point ahead of Odessa and three points ahead of New Mexico.

It's as close to first place as the Scorpions have been all year after starting the season with a 1-4-1 record.

The Scorpions resume the chase for first place with back-to-back weekend games against Corpus Christi. Game time on both Friday and Saturday is 7:15 p.m.

Saturday's game is "Stanley Bobblehead" night, with the first 1,500 fans receiving the toy courtesy of the city of Rio Rancho.

Ticket information is available at 881-PUCK or at www.ScorpionsHockey.com. Complete statistics and standings are available at www.CentralHockeyLeague.com.


STORY WILL BE UPDATED WITH PLAYER QUOTES