Friday: Odessa Jackalopes 1 @ El Paso Rhinos 6 – It’s Minecraft night here in the Sun CIty with our brand-new Jerseys out on full display while the Jackalopes pay us a visit! Gaige Giblin takes right to the net at a little over a minute after puck drop to put the Rhinos up 1-0. Troy Hunka takes a while but finds himself a goal in the closing minutes of the period to round out the score at 2-0 before first intermission.
The second period was fraught with possession changes as the puck flew up and down the ice with neither team managing to find an opening. This would lead to only a single goal being scored from Kamden Kaiser, who snuck the puck in the net with just 11 seconds to go in the period for a 3-0 Rhino lead.
The third period is upon us and after a quick break Aidan Bergner keeps the momentum going, scoring with 18:04 left on the clock and followed just a few minutes later by Jacob Solano to make it 5-0, Rhinos leading by the 14:53 mark. After a long fought game the Jackalopes do finally manage to get a point as Henry Thornton scores with 13:20 to go in the third. The Rhinos are now up 5-1 over Odessa, but with one final goal from Hunka off a powerplay, the game is settled with a 6-1 Rhino victory.
Rhinos lead shots on goal tonight with 43 over the Jackalopes’ 34, with goaltender Logan Hughes saving 33.
Saturday: Odessa Jackalopes 4 @ El Paso Rhinos 2 – Game #2 is set to play as the Odessa Jackalopes return to Rhino ice as they aim for revenge after last night’s defeat here in the Sun City. Odessa takes a strat right out of the Rhinos’ playbook, copying their aggression from last night as Nicholas Arrington draws first blood with a goal just four minutes in to the period. This would be followed up shortly behind by Adam Matar, who doubles down to put the Jackalopes up 2-0 at the end of the first period.
Daniel Kuczkowski took the opportunity to rest during first intermission and came right back to score in the third period, putting Odessa up 3-0 with Rhinos still trying to find an opening. With 2:42 left go go in the second period Alexi Gregoire finally puts us on the board, but the Jackalopes still maintain a 3-1 lead at the end of the second.
The final intermission passes us by and the Rhinos pick up the pace to bring back the score. Troy Hunka does what he does best and leads the charge, finding himself on the winning end of a trade, scoring with 13:12 left to go in the third. The score now 3-2, Rhinos trailing behind the Jackalopes with the game back within reach the game enters its final stage. Unfortunately for the Rhinos the final goal would be given to Caden Ghiossi, who scores off an empty net to end game 2 with a 4-2 Jackalope win.
