Scorpions lose two-goal lead, chance for tie for first

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. – The New Mexico Scorpions blew a chance to move into a first place tie with Arizona, giving up a two-goal lead in the final period to fall to the Sundogs 6-5 in a Central Hockey League game Friday night.

With the victory, Arizona moved four points ahead of the Scorpions in the Southwest Division standings. Odessa, which entered the night tied for second with New Mexico, kept pace the Sundogs with a 3-0 home victory over Wichita.

Arizona has 63 points, Odessa 61 and New Mexico entering tonight’s play. The Scorpions could still pull into a first-place tie with the Sundogs, depending on what Odessa does, if it they can win tonight and next Friday at home at the Sundogs.

But oh what might have been in Game 2 of the three-games-in-four-nights road trip to the Valley of the Sun.

New Mexico broke a 3-3 tie with power play goals in he final minute of the second period by Vladimir Hartinger and Konrad Reeder, only to see it slip away in the last period.

The two power play goals were set up by rare abuse of officials penalties on Alex Leavitt and Rob Lehinen, the latter a 10-minute game misconduct penalty.

New Mexico jumped to a 2-0 lead on two goals in the opening period by Chris Robertson. Craig Macdonald’s power play goal off assists by Robertson and Reeder gave the Scorpions a 3-1 lead less than five minutes into the period, only to watch it slip away on Arizona power play goals by Cory Urquhart and Karl Sellan.

After the penalties evened out and New Mexico built another two goal lead on the goals by Hartinger and Reeder, Arizona rallied for three scores in the final period, with Sellan getting the game winner with 6:42 left in the game.

Both teams finished 3-for-9 on the power play on the night, with Arizona getting 10 more shots than New Mexico (51-41). The Scorpions ended up with 10 fewer penalty minutes in the game, played before 4,707 fans.

Tonight’s pivotal rematch begins at 7:05 p.m. on both the CHL Network and 610 AM The Sports Animal.

Tickets are on sale for the next Scorpions home game against Arizona, where New Mexico will wear special University of New Mexico jerseys that will be auctioned off for charity after the game. It will also be another  “All You Can Eat Weekend Special” game where fans can get a corner seat plus all the hot dogs, sodas, nachos and popcorn they want for $20.

For information, visit www.scorpionshockey.com or call 881-PUCK. Complete statistics and standings are available at www.CentralHockeyLeague.com.

Congratulations to Wayne Oliver of Rio Rancho, who found the Stanley the Scorpion hiding behind the New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan advertisement on The SCORE. Prizes will be available at the Scorpions’ office at the Santa Ana Star Center.

Look for Stanley to be lurking behind a different advertisement in Saturday’s game.