Odessa dominates Scorpions in 3rd period

By Eric Maddy
The SCORE

Home sour home.

After going 3-3 on a season-long six game, two-week road trip, the New Mexico Scorpions returned home Wednesday night and dropped a 5-2 decision to Southwest Division-leading Odessa.

The Scorpions are 10-11 on the road this season, tied for third in the Southern Conference for victories. But New Mexico is just 5-11-2 on the home ice of the Santa Ana Star Center, which leaves the Scorpions on the outside looking in at the playoff picture at the moment.

The Scorpions started the night in third place in its division and tied for sixth in the conference with Corpus Christi at 32 points. Both teams are chasing defending league champion Arizona, which is fifth in the conference with 36 points.

Only the top five teams make the Central Hockey League playoffs. But unless there is an improvement in the home record soon, New Mexico won’t be in them.

Odessa never trailed in the game. Kenny Bernard scored two goals in the first period for the Jackalopes, sandwiched around an Aaron MacInnis power play goal midway though the stanza. Colin Circelli stretched the Odessa lead to 3-1 early in the second period before New Mexico closed the gap to one goal with 5:35 left on Craig Macdonald’s score.

It was a relatively clean game through two periods, with only two penalties on New Mexico and four on Odessa. New Mexico sqandered three power play opportunities in the final period, including a four-minute stretch when Kory Karlander was whistled for hooking and unsportsmanlike conduct on the same play just with 17:40 left. 

As good teams will do, Odessa capitalized on New Mexico’s first mistake, Chris Robertson’s interference penalty with 9:28 left in the period. Mario Joly scored 49 seconds into the power play to stretch the Jackalopes’ to 4-2.

Mike Ramsey’s one-timer off a faceoff victory by Karlander accounted for the final goal.

The Scorpions play host to Corpus Christi at 7:15 p.m. Saturday on “American Cancer Society Night” and “Faith Night.” Ticket information is available at www.ScorpionsHockey.com.

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

Will be updated with quotes.