Scorpions lose game, tempers in overtime

By Eric Maddy
The SCORE

Coaches and athletes like to employ clichés to discuss their performance, and one of the golden oldies is that “To be the best you’ve got to beat the best.”

For two straight nights the New Mexico Scorpions played one of the best teams in the Central Hockey League. And after Saturday’s controversial 2-1 overtime loss to the Colorado Eagles, the Scorpions have to feel they’re like another cliché: “Close but no cigar.”

Kevin Ulanski’s goal 45 seconds into overtime decided the tense defensive struggle and left the Scorpions frustrated. Goalie Jason Wolfe, who had 36 saves and was brilliant all night, slammed his stick across the crossbar, threw it down the ice and started after the officials in the post-game confusion.

Coach Randy Murphy went to the officials after the game but said “I got no explanation. Nothing. I haven’t seen the video yet. No explanation. I haven’t seen the video. I haven’t seen anything, so I don’t know.”

Replays and press box observers weren’t exactly clear on what happened. Apparently Erik Adam’s ricochet off the boards got to Ulanski’s stick and the puck crossed into the net, though some thought one of the linesmen wiped off the goal even though the light behind the net flashed his light.

“I don’t think Jason saw that (motion from an official). I just think he thought the puck didn’t go into the net. They (the officials) did, so what can you do?”

Both Murphy and Wolfe drew post-game abuse of officials penalties.

Still photos taken from the press box produced 30 minutes after the game ended seemed to indicate the goal crossed the line into the net.

The controversial finish left the announced crowd of 2,569 dissatisfied at the conclusion of an otherwise spectacular game. Both Wolfe and Colorado goalie Andrew Penner were stellar throughout, with both making 36 saves.

Colorado took a 1-0 lead into the final period at on Ed McGrane’s goal with 2:50 left in the second period. That goal stood up until Ben  Chaisson scored the equalizer for New Mexico with 12:02 remaining.

Colorado defeated the Scorpions 4-3 on Friday, a game in which Murphy found encouraging despite what he described as a few lapses. Even in the disappointment of a controversial finish, he was even more encouraged by his team’s performances.

“I didn’t think we had any lapses tonight,” he said. “That kind of effort is going to win 90 percent of our games, or 95 percent maybe. But that’s the challenge. It because a mental thing. You are always going to get up for a team like Colorado. But now we have to make sure to give the same effort against other teams.”

By gaining only one point with the overtime victory, New Mexico pulled within four points of sixth-place Corpus Christi, the team it is currently chasing in the Western Conference standings. Arizona and Rio Grande Valley are currently tied for fifth place, a point ahead of Corpus Christi.

The Scorpions next game is Dec. 26 at home against Rocky Mountain. For ticket information, go to www.scorpionshockey.com.

Complete statistics and standings are available at www.centralhockeyleague.com.