New Mexico comes back to win 3-2 in SO

On a night where the Rhinos could have officially tied the Ice Jets for the Mid-West Division Lead following the 3 game sweep, a plucky and aggressive New Mexico Team came back from a 2-0 deficit in the 3rd period to get the game tied and then win in a SO.

Despite the Rhinos SO Loss, this takes the Ice Jets within a single point of the Mid-West Division Leading Ice Jets, and they will have a prime opportunity to take the Division Lead both Tonight & Tomorrow Night with 2 more games against the Renegades this weekend. Both Games Friday & Saturday Night will be taking place at 7:30 PM MST (8:30 PM CST).

They are taking advantage of both the series sweep again the Ice Jets and the fact that the Ice Jets have this weekend off by using their 2 games in hand to great use right now.

Current WSHL Mid-West Division Standings.

1. Dallas Ice Jets  30 GP  20-6-4  44 PTS  125-79

2. El Paso Rhinos 29 GP  21-7-1  43 PTS  162-95

3. Texas Jr. Brahmas  26 GP  15-10-1  31 PTS  111-93

4. New Mexico Renegades  26 GP  13-11-2  28 PTS  93-96

5. Dallas Snipers  32 GP  3-29-0  6 PTS  95-213

New Mexico Renegades 3 El Paso Rhinos 2  (SO) (0-1, 0-1, 2-0, 0-0, 1-0)

El Paso Rhinos Press Release by Duke Keith

Here's the New Mexico Renegades Press Release

From El Paso, Texas: Thirty one seconds.

Leading 2-0 over a scrappy New Mexico Renegades Team in the third period, the El Paso Rhinos went to sleep at the switch for just 31 seconds. That's all it took for the Renegades to tie the game, then beat their hosts in a shootout, 3-2.

New Mexico's Adam Moon deflected a fluke goal in off a draw at 3:41. Out of a fracas right after the goal, El Paso team captain Mike Rivera was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct.

After going 0-8 with the man advantage through the prior two periods. Renegades forward Matt Uvodich broke into the Rhinos Zone between two defenders and lifted a low wrister just over the pad of El Paso Goalie Trent Casper for the power play goal at 4:12.

Embolden by the tie, New Mexico circled the wagon behind goaltender Eric Messer, not letting in another Rhinos goal through the rest of regulation, all of the five minute overtime, and even the shootout.

Though it won't show up in the stats, Messer also stopped all four Rhinos shooters in the SO, when Michael Pisarevsky rendered the fifth shooter unnecessary by the scoring New Mexico's second shootout goal.

Messer stopped 42 of 44 shots for his 10th win in net and New Mexico improves to 13-11-2. The Renegades 28 points put them just 3 points behind the Texas Brahmas for third place in the Mid-West Conference of the Western States Hockey League.

The loss is El Paso's (21-7-1, 43 Points) first in overtime or shootout this season, thus the Rhinos miss an opportunity to the Ice Jets (20-6-4  44 PTS) atop the Mid-West Conference for the first time this season.

They'll have another opportunity Friday & Saturday Night, as El Paso & New Mexico play twice more, at 7:30 PM MST both nights.

For tickets & Info, contact the Rhinos front office at 915-479-PUCK (7825) or go to www.elpasorhinos.com