Scorpions blow third-period lead, fall to Arizona

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. – The New Mexico Scorpions lost a two goal lead in the final period and perhaps their last chance to catch first-place Arizona in the standings, falling to the Sundogs 5-4 in overtime Tuesday night.

With the loss, the Scorpions fell four points behind Arizona with six games left to play. While the Sundogs have only one road game left, the Scorpions face a brutal three games in three nights stretch starting Friday night at Colorado. New Mexico plays four of its final six contests on the road.

Tyler Liebel scored the game winner at the 1:45 mark of overtime to cap an Arizona rally that started in the second half of the final period.

The good news for New Mexico is that by making overtime it picked up one point to move out of a second –place tie with Odessa. The slumping Jackalopes, who have lost five straight games, lost at Texas 4-1 and trail Arizona by five points in the standings. Odessa has only five games remaining.

Tied 2-2 entering the third period, New Mexico jumped ahead on Kevin Harvey’s eighth goal of the season, and then extended its lead on Konrad Reeder’s second goal of the night. At that point, things were looking good for the Scorpions to pull within one point of the division leaders with a possible decisive game with the Sundogs next Tuesday night at the Santa Ana Star Center.

But Arizona used its power play to grab momentum back. Cory Urquhart made a nice move to cut the Scorpions lead down to 4-3 at the 13:51 mark of the third period after Aaron MacInnis was whistled for a rare double minor four-minute penalty for high sticking.

Chris Bartolone then tied the game when he shot the puck through a screen and into the net four minutes later.

New Mexico took an early 1-0 lead when Ray Ortiz fired a wrist shot past goalie Marco Emond. But Arizona came back later in the period to score two goals within 30 seconds. After Alex Leavitt tied the game with a power play goal, a turnover inside the Scorpions’ zone ended up on Mark Kolanos’ stick and eventually inside the Scorpions’ net.

New Mexico tied the game in the second period when Ross McCain set up Reeder with a back door pass, which in turn set up the topsy-turvy third period and finish.

Friday’s game will air on both 610-AM The Sports Animal and the CHL Network starting at 6:05 p.m.

For complete statistics and standings, go to www.CentralHockeyLeague.com.


The Playoff Chase
      
Here is the remaining schedule for the three contending teams in the Southwest Division race through Tuesday’s games:

1. Arizona, 72 points (6 games, 5 at home) 3/14 Amarillo; 3/15 Amarillo; 3/18 at New Mexico; 3/19 Rocky Mountain; 3/21 Odessa; 3/22 Odessa

2. New Mexico, 68 points (6 games, 2 at home) 3/14 at Colorado; 3/15 at Rocky Mountain; 3/16 at Wichita; 3/18 Arizona; 3/21 at Amarillo; 3/22 Amarillo.

3. Odessa, 67 points (5 games, 3 at home) 3/13 Rio Grande Valley; 3/14 Corpus Christi; 3/18 Amarillo; 3/21 at Arizona; 3/22 at Arizona 14