After being held without a shot in the third period of Saturday’s game, the Rhinos were not going to be stymied on Sunday. In total the Rhinos took 41 shots on their way to a 4-2 victory in the weekend series’ rubber match. Although penalties were plentiful, especially for the Rhinos, there were no fights on Sunday – making it the first game of the series without one.
The Blazers opened the scoring when center Kole Hudson slipped one past Rhinos goaltender Adam Vay. The Blazers were on the power play following a delay of game penalty on Vay. The Rhinos would wait until the second period to get on the board and ended it tied with the Blazers at 2-2. At 7:57 defenseman David Brancik scored an unassisted goal to bring the Rhinos level. About a minute later, the Blazers took the lead again on a goal from right wing Dominik Vlk. It was the second game in a row that Vlk has scored to take the lead for the Blazers. Before the period ended, new Rhino forward Jordan Cullum scored for the third game in a row – every game since joining the Rhinos – to bring the teams level yet again.
Unlike Saturday’s losing effort, the Rhinos took plenty of shots in the third period with 17. The Blazers were held to three – the same as Saturday – however, none found their way into the net. The team’s leading goal scorer, forward Jiri Pestuka, gave the Rhinos the lead only three minutes into the period and it was never relinquished. Forward Gavin Abbott added a shorthanded, empty net goal to round out the Rhinos win. The Rhinos leave Oklahoma City with a 10 point lead over the second place Blazers.
The Rhinos will be back on the ice of the Sierra Providence Events Center next weekend to take on the Dallas Snipers. Friday’s game begins at 7:30pm local time.
–Jason Green
