Scorpions blanked for 1st time, lose 3rd straight

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Riley Nelson scored two shorthanded goals, one each in the first two periods, and Seth Leonard also scored twice, including a shorthanded goal in the third period, as New Mexico dropped its third straight game.

The Scorpions, playing a rare day game after losing at Amarillo on Saturday night and bussing home, seemed listless throughout.

And the defending league champions, who are in second place in the Northwest Division, took advantage.

Leonard's first goal only 2:47 into the game openend the scoring, and Nelson's goal 2:58 later after a Dylan Row penalty for slashing put the Scorpions in a hole they could never dig out of.

Nelson and Steve Haddon, on an assist from Nelson, scored in the scond period as Colorado outshot the Scorpions 27-18 after two periods. Even a fight between the Scorpions' designated enforcer, Kevin Harvey, and Colorado's Greg Pankewicz couldn't wake up the slumbering Scorpions.

Leonard's second goal with 12:28 left in the game made it 5-0, more than enough cushion for Colorado goalie Sebastian Laplante, who left the 2,638 fans quiet for most of the game.

Both Arizona, which leads the Southwest Division by four points, and Odessa were idle on Sunday.bNew Mexico lost all three games this weekend after gaining a first-place tie by beating Amarillo on Tuesday to cap a six-game winning streak.

The Scorpions have a chance to catch the leaders with four straight games against Arizona. The first three are at Arizona starting on Wednesday. The next New Mexico home game is Feb. 29 against Arizona.

"We're treating this a playoff series," head coach Randy Murphy said.

For ticket information, go to www.ScorpionsHockey.com or call 881-PUCK. Complete statistics and standings are available at www.CentralHockeyLeague.com.