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CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Lose, 8-6, to Scorpions

December 2, 2003 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


Albuquerque - The two-time defending CHL champion Memphis RiverKings came up short in their bid to win the final road game of their five-game swing, losing 8-6 to the New Mexico Scorpions before 2,083 fans at Tingley Coliseum.

Forward Mike Oliveira capped a five-point night with the final two goals for the Scorpions, including a shorthanded breakaway for the game-winner and an empty-net goal to ice the contest. Oliveira's five points pushes his season total to 27 points in only 12 games.

The RiverKings started off slow, as the Scorpions scored two goals within the first four minutes. Defenseman Arturs Kupaks and forward Kevin Edgar both were able to beat RiverKings goaltender Mike Minard, who was making his first start of the season for Memphis after a long stint on the IR.

The RiverKings were able to answer back, as forward Brian Tucker scored off assists from Alexander Mathieu and Tim Schneider to bring the 'Kings within 2-1. The two teams traded goals at the end of the first period, leaving Memphis down 3-2 going into the second frame.

Unfortunately for the RiverKings, New Mexico was able to push their lead out further in the second period. Goals by Oliveira, Chris Richards and Brian Barker were answered only by a power-play goal courtesy of RiverKings forward Jay Neal, and Memphis found themselves down 6-3 heading into the final period.

Oliveira's shorthanded game-winner put the RiverKings down by their largest margin of the road trip, 7-3. Two goals by Mathieu brought the RiverKings back within two goals, but the RiverKings, scrambling to get back into the game, let in the empty net goal with just over 90 seconds to play to ice it.

The RiverKings fell to 15-7-0 on the season with the loss. New Mexico improved to 9-9-1 on the season. Memphis still leads the CHL's Northeast Division with 30 points on the campaign.

Memphis will be in action again this Friday as they host the San Angelo Saints at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Mississippi. Gametime is set for 7:05 pm CST.

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