Scorpions Beat Gorillas In Playoff Opener

Published on March 30, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
New Mexico Scorpions News Release


RIO RANCHO, N.M. - The Scorpions showed the Gorillas no mercy with a 5-3 playoff victory. The win gave the Scorpions a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Things are magnified in the playoffs, especially mistakes. The Scorpions used a bad line change from Amarillo to get on the board in the first period. Craig Macdonald carried the puck in the zone and as the Gorillas players peeled out he found himself on a two-on-one with Mike Prpich. Macdonald slid the puck to Prpich who put it into the back of the net.

New Mexico extended their lead early in the second period. Vladimir Hartinger dumped the puck into the zone off the glass behind the net. Konrad Reeder picked the puck up and found a way to put it into the net.

Amarillo cut the lead in half with a power play goal from Rich Hansen at the 8:06 mark of the middle period. Craig Macdonald gave the Scorpions their two-goal lead back late in the second period.

The third period started out slow but finished with a bang. Ryan McLeod scored his first professional playoff goal, giving the Scorpions their biggest lead of the game.

The Gorillas fought back with Derek Hahn's first playoff goal this season at 10:34 of the third period. Things got tight with 63-seconds remaining as Joey Bastien knocked a rebound home making it a 4-3 game.

Making matters tougher, the Scorpions were shorthanded as Aaron MacInnis was sent to the penalty box and Amarillo pulled their goalie in favor of six attackers. With an important draw inside the Scorpions zone, Chris Robertson was called upon and he came through. He won the draw back and Prpich took the puck then cleared it down the ice and into the open net.

The playoff victory was the first for the Scorpions franchise since March 21, 2003. It was also the first home playoff victory since a May 3, 2000.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2007


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