Thursday, El Paso Rhinos 2 @ New Mexico Ice Wolves 7 – Rhinos are on the road this week as they face off at Outpost Ice Arena against the New Mexico Ice Wolves. We’ll start off the night as E.J. Janda puts the Rhinos on the board a little over halfway into the first period. Nikolai Dulak ties the game for the Ice Wolves just a few minutes after to set us at 1-1 at the end of the first. After a short intermission the Ice Wolves came out of the gates swinging. Sully Scholle and Aidan Emerson earn two quick goals for the Ice Wolves in just two minutes to shoot them into the lead. Camden Bajzer cuts the lead to 1 point as Rhinos earn one more goal. With the score now at 3-2 the Rhinos attempt to climb their way back to the lead, but Tyler Samodral wouldn’t let that happen as Ice Wolves double their lead over the Rhinos. As the final period is upon us New Mexico leads 4-2 over El Paso. The third period begins with two more goals for the Ice Wolves in just over five minutes attributed to Tony Leahy and William Howard respectively. With the Rhinos now at even more of a deficit Sully Scholle puts the final nail in the coffin with one final goal at the 17:10 mark to end the night. Ice Wolves take Game #1 7-2.
Friday, El Paso Rhinos 1 @ New Mexico Ice Wolves 6 – Back at it for Game #2 the Rhinos and Ice Wolves take to the ice once again. Only one goal was awarded in the first period and it would go to the Ice Wolves’ Tony Leahy for an early 1-0 lead. Headed into the second period we start to see more action brewing. AJ Reed ties the game for the Rhinos with a goal in just under nine minutes, but it would be the ice wolves who took control of the period. Following the Rhinos’ goal the Ice Wolves would continue to score three goals throughout the period. Aidan Emerson scores his first goal of the night and JD Metz takes two of his own to put the Ice Wolves ahead 4-1 at the end of the second. New Mexico kept up with the scoring with two more goals in the third by William Howards & Hunter Hastings to round out their score 6-1 by the end of the period to secure victory in Game 2.
Saturday, El Paso Rhinos 1 @ New Mexico Ice Wolves 4 – Rhinos are down 2 games in the series as they seek to prevent a sweep by the Ice Wolves. New Mexico seizes the initiative right off the bat in the first period as Alfred Lindberg takes two goals in just over five minutes. The Rhinos respond with one goal from Kolby Amici at the 12:08 mark to end the period 2-1, New Mexico leading. In a repeat of the first period the Ice Wolves again take two goals in five minutes as Jeff Hutchinson and William Howard give the ice wolves the final two goals of the night to end the game at 4-1. Ice Wolves take the series with a 3-game sweep.
