Friday: El Paso 4 @ Oklahoma City 8: After the contest remained scoreless through the first 20, Robby Rabroker scored his first goal of three to open the offensive floodgates for Oklahoma City just 41 seconds into the 2nd period. The Ice Hawks would score four more times in the period and three more in the 3rd to give them the 8-4 victory. Carl Bengtsson recorded two goals while Vincent Anderson, Aaron Best, and Richard Indermill scored the remainder. Garrett Conner, Noah Henslee, and Jakob Holley all recorded multiple assists. El Paso’s Connor Thompson and Colin Clough scored and assisted twice, keeping the game in reach. Jaxon Penner and Jack Olson also found the net. Netminder Nathan Hadley saved 17 shots in the win and Peyton Brendel made 40 saves in the loss.
Saturday: Oklahoma City Ice Hawks 3 @ El Paso Rhinos 1 – El Paso Rhinos are defeated in the second game of the series.
Ice Hawks started today’s game with two goals in the first period. These goals would be the only for some time as no goals were scored by either team in the second period.
Despite all the scoring, penalties for roughing were thrown around by both teams as tensions rose as the game unfolded.
Ethan Marcola put the Rhinos on the board in the third period, unfortunately the Ice Hawks came back and scored a third goal, ending the night at 3-1, Rhinos taking the loss.
Sunday: Oklahoma City Ice Hawks 5 @ El Paso Rhinos 4 – The Rhinos found themselves facing a four goal deficit with just under 7 minutes remaining in the second period. Daniel Cuellar, with the help of Sebe Perez, closed the gap when he scored El Paso’s first goal at 13:51 in the second. In the third, Zach Ware and Cuellar both scored to tie the game at 3. OKC took the lead again at the 11:19 mark before Jaxon Penner evened the score at 4 with a power play goal. Despite the late push, OKC’s Noah Henslee’s power play goal at 17:50 earned the Ice Hawks the win and the series sweep.
