Friday: Louisiana Drillers 3 @ El Paso Rhinos 4 – Rhinos play host to the Drillers this weekend in the first of a three-game series! Zach Ware starts us off tonight with a goal at just past 8 minutes to take the early game lead. Unfortunately the Drillers came back in the last 30 seconds of the period to take two goals and steal the lead. Drillers take one more goal in the second to make it a 3-1 game, but the Rhinos were ready to fight back. Nick Jones scores one goal for the Rhinos to bring the game back to a one point deficit. As we head into the third period the Drillers lead 2-3 over the Rhinos, but it wouldn’t last for long as Austin Renaldo ties up the game. With time running out the Rhinos make one final play lead by Michael Sobaski who gets a last minute goal to take the the win. Final score is 4-3, Rhinos out in front.
Saturday: Louisiana Drillers 2 @ El Paso Rhinos 3 – Game #2 is underway as the Drillers & Rhinos take back to the ice. The first period is quiet with no scores or penalties on either side, leading us at 0-0 into the second. Drillers took the initiative with two goals before 15 minutes. Tyler Kowalchuk puts the Rhinos on the board not too long after to set the score at 2-1, Drillers leading. Joseph Gutierrez brought the game back to a tie with a goal at just under a minute, but this wouldn’t be the end. Gutierrez took one more goal to round out the night with a 3-2 victory over the Drillers.
Sunday: Louisiana Drillers 4 @ El Paso Rhinos 8 – Rhinos aim for a sweep tonight as we begin Game #3 against the Louisiana Drillers. Kyle Arias starts us off tonight with the only goal of the first period. Joseph Gutierrez keeps up his momentum from last night and bags a second goal for the Rhinos right out of the gates for the second period, but the Drillers respond in kind as Colton Sebastian saves them from a scoreless game. Nick Jones and Michael Sobaski both take a goal each for the Rhinos and the score is now 4-1 at just past five minutes into the second period. The competition continues to heat up as Sebastian takes another goal for the Drillers, cutting the deficit in half. Jack Wilson, Kyle Arias, and Zach Ware all take one goal per person in the minutes following to set the score at 7-2 in the Rhinos’ favor. The clock ticks down on the third period and Tyler Kowalchuk takes one last goal for the Rhinos before the Drillers steal two more before regulation time is out. Final Score: Rhinos 8 to the Drillers 4. Rhinos take a 3-game sweep over the Drillers.
