Rhinos back on winning track, 6-2

Oct 27, 2007

Eric LaBounty and Costi Hinn assisted on the tying goal, while Denver-bred Hayden Kowalski assisted Kohn.

Kevin Coyne notched the game-winner just 1:15 into the second period, assisted by Kohn and Gabriel Hernandez.

The Outlaws did get one back, as Ben Douglas scored 59 seconds later, but Kohn got his second before the end of the period, as Goller’s and Coyne’s pass found the forward at 17:37.

Kowalski got another quick strike in front of family and friends, scoring just 1:45 into the third period as Kohn got his second assist and fourth point of the night.

Austin Balko rounded out the scoring on the power play assisted by Anthony Paulsen at 4:08.

“The boys played really well tonight,” said El Paso head coach Cory Herman. “It was different tonight (Friday) from the game last Sunday. They were more relaxed and ready to play.

“We’ll see Saturday, but ending the streak might have actually done them some good – gotten their heads on straight again. They were playing hard tonight.”

Hollinger became the first goaltender in the Western States Hockey Leagues to win 10 games, doing so in just his 11th start, and remains one of only three goaltenders with a goals-against average under 2.00 (1.52).

Kohn’s four-point night ties him for seventh place among the WSHL’s scoring leaders with eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points.

Though he didn’t score a point Friday, forward Marcus Wilhite remains tied for fifth in points with 25 (11 goals, 14 assists).

El Paso’s special teams remain first-rate, as the Rhinos went 2-for-6 on the power play (22.7 percent, second in the WSHL) while keepingColorado scoreless on three advantages (94.4 percent, tops in the league).

El Paso ’s penalty killing has yielded just six goals in 16 games, making it the only team in the WSHL to have not yielded double-digit power play goals.

The Rhinos got their 15th win against one shootout loss, giving the team 33 points and a 12-point lead over second place San Antonio . Colorado drops to 9-7-0 and the Outlaws’ 18 points put them just behind San Antonio and Tulsa for fourth place.

The two teams play again tomorrow at 4:20 p.m. MDT, followed by a noon game this Sunday. As always fans can get live game tracking at www.pointstreak.com. Just key “WSHL” into the hockey searchbar and follow the links, but be advised – technical glitches in Colorado show Outlaws games as being played a day later than games are actually played, thus Saturday’s Rhinos-Outlaws game can be viewed by clicking on the Sunday calendar link.