Scorpions 3, Sundogs 1

FINALLY! I make it out to the SASC for the first time in a few weeks, and get to see an "instant classic" against the longtime rivals from the west. Right from the beginning, this had the makings of a playoff game, and the intensity carried right through the final whistle, earning the Scorpions two critical points. With Corpus Christi's 4-1 win over Rio, it's basically a win-out situation for the Scorps, but I'm sure Randy Murphy has his guys taking it one game at a time, and that's exactly what they did last night.

Observations:

• Joel Gistedt was 3-0 against the Scorps going into last night, with a goals-against of 3.33. In case you were wondering, Amarillo is the only other team against which Gistedt has multiple wins. But for a guy who's taken a lot of heat this year, the young Sweded certainly defied his critics (and his pointstreak stats). At one point early in the second period, the shots were 20-5 in favor of the Scorpions, but Gistedt simply stole the show. He absolutely robbed Craig Macdonald on two separate occassions, both on bang-bang plays to the side of the net. You certainly can't fault Gistedt with the two goals he did give up
• Aside from the flurry of activity in the game's opening minutes, Kyle McNulty was probably rather bored through the first two periods. Granted, that's a good thing. But when the Scorpions needed him most, McNulty stepped up in a big way, as he has all season long. He played a pheomenal third period in a game that very well could have gone either way.
  
• Pat Allen said it best in the 3-Star selection: you wouldn't expect anything less from Chris Robertson in a game like this. That was an MVP-worthy performance from the Scorps' top center in just about every department. He won timely draws, he played both ends of the ice, he threw his weight around (and dropped 6'4" Joel Irving on his wallet) and, most importantly, he made a great individual effort to open the scoring.
  
• About the only thing you really have to question last night was the Scorpions' powerplay. They were going up against the league's worst penalty kill, and they simply got outworked. The puck movement was there, but the player movement was not. Everything looked completely stale. If you look at any top powerplay unit, you'll see how dynamic those 5 guys look out there. The Colorados and the Odessas are constantly cycling around and creating passing lanes for themselves rather than waiting.
  
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I hate school

Sorry for the total lack of blog posts lately...I'm in the midst of the midterm push so I've (sadly) had to shift my focus toward school. I didn't even make the game last night against Colorado. Anyhow, as it stands, the Scorpions are still 4 points behind Arizona for the final Southern Conference playoff spot. Both Arizona and Corpus Christi play tonight, so the Scorpions will have a game in hand on the Sundogs and will be even with the IceRays going into the weekend

Roster move, Scorps get help in standings

The "Mini Moose" era is over in New Mexico, as Lyon Messier was put on waivers yesterday. All the best to Lyon, who was a very pleasant kid and definitely conducted himself in a manor becoming of his heralded name. I'm sure he'll crop up somewhere.

The Scorps also got some much-needed help on the scoreboard last night, as Texas downed Corpus Christi and Rio Grande Valley took care of Arizona. As it stands going into tonight's game against Amarillo, the Scorpions sit four points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand on both the IceRays and the Sundogs. Two points would be huge tonight, with Arizona travelling to Laredo tomorrow before battling Corpus on Friday in what should be an all-out war. Best case scenario if you ask me? Arizona wins in regulation. If the Sundogs are the frontrunners for the 5th and final playoff spot going into the final two weeks of the season, it means the Scorpions' destiny is in their own hands. Boy is that going to be an eventful four games!

McNulty named Goaltender of the Week

Some much-deserved recognition for Kyle McNulty, who has almost single-handedly revived the Scorpions' confidence in time for a playoff push. I'm off to class, so more later.

Scorpions 5, Jackalopes 4

In the realm of important wins, this has to rank right up there for the Scorpions. The odds were certainly stacked against them, with the third game in three nights against an Odessa team with plenty of motivation. It was not the most consistent effort the Scorpions put together this season, but all that matters is that they're on a bus ride back from Midland, Texas just 4 points out of the final playoff spot in the Southern Conference.

Observations:

• The first thing you talk about has to be the end of this game. I envy Adam Minnick for getting to call such an exciting finish. I definitely thought the Jacks were going to take the two points after they answered back just 18 seconds after Craig Macdonald's goal (congrats to Macdonald on setting a new season-high with 30 goals) -- I honestly thought they might even do it in regulation. But credit Seth Leonard with crashing the net and outworking the Jacks' D to pot the eventual game-winner. It might have snuck a bit under the radar that Lenny's 7 game-winning-goals are tied for second the CHL.
  
• With the way Odessa's defense was playing early on, you would've expected a garbage goal to be the only thing that would get the Scorpions on the board. Jamie Herrington certainly disproved that notion, as that cross-crease, between-the-legs pass to Andrew Smale was the kind of play that will get some WOW's at any level.
  
• Jordan Foote should probably leave the heavy-handed work to Adam Knight, as Footer pretty well got his clock cleaned in his first professional fight. I'd definitely score that round 10-8 for Garrett Gruenke, but credit Foote for standing up for himself after Mario Joly called him out.
  
• Great play from Mike MacDonald to silence his former mates. The acrobatics and the finish were reminiscent of another diminutive No. 21
• Huge game at home against Amarillo on Wednesday, but the Scorps could surely use some favors from Texas (@ Corpus) and Rio Grande Valley (vs. Arizona) on Tuesday to help gain even more ground
  

Killer Bees 4, Scorpions 2

I didn't catch all of this one, but I think the picture says all that needs to be said. As I'm writing this, at least Joel Gistedt is in goal for Arizona, giving the Scorps a glimmer of hope that Bossier will do them a favor

People can learn from this

This is not hockey-related, but when I stumbled upon this touching story from a high school basketball game in Milwaukee, Wisc., I had to pass it along to anyone who'd read it. One of the things I have always appreciated about sports is that unspoken bond that athletes share -- the one that allows them to put competition aside, at any level, in the name of sportsmanship and respect.

"That's insanity!"

Not gonna lie...that No. 8 is pretty damn good. Anyone else think this looks like a video game goal?

Scorpions 7, Gorillas 2

The Scorpions continue their recent day-game success with this drubbing of their hot-and-cold division rivals. It seemed like one of those games where Randy Murphy's guys could do no wrong. The win puts the Scorpions 7 points behind Arizona with a game in hand on the Sundogs.

Observations:

• There were a couple of very pretty goals in this one. Ross McCain and Chris Robertson worked that shorthanded 2-on-1 to perfection to open the scoring, and how about McCain embracing the power forward within on that solo effort a few minutes later? Both Seth Leonard and Craig Macdonald had absolute snipe jobs on A.J. Bucchino, and that was just the scoring in the first period
• Welcome back Tyler Fuller. I get the impression that he and Michael Beynon are going to make for a very steady tandem when called upon down the stretch. It also takes some of the pressure off Aaron MacInnis, who was paired with red-hot Tom Maldonado for today's game. I've been very impressed with Maldonado's play over the past few weeks, on both sides of the puck, and he and MacInnis make for a no. 1 defense pairing that can do it all
• Jamie Herrington was sidelined with the flu -- speedy recovery to Herry -- which gave Mike MacDonald a much-deserved respite from checking line duties. "Mini Mac" cashed in right away too, picking up a beautiful goal alongside Leonard and Craig Macdonald
• One of the few highlights of the day for Amarillo had to be John Snowden's powerplay tally early in the third period. It wasn't all that impressive at first glance, but I noticed while the Gorillas were celebrating that Snowden's point blast had snapped Beynon's stick clean in two and still managed to get past Kyle McNulty. That's a heavy shot
• Speaking of McNulty, yet another stellar outing for the Scorpions' prized pickup. In his first 6 starts as a Scorpion, McNulty is 4-2-0 with a 2.67 goals-against and a .927 save percentage. He has kept his opponents under 3 goals in every contest, so as long as the Scorpions' offense has produced, McNulty has picked up a W
• As I was discussing with Adam Minnick after the game, the next 6 games will effectively make or break the Scorpions' postseason hopes. It all start's with this weekend's 3-in-3 through less-than-friendly South Texas. The Scorps travel to Rio Grande Valley on Friday for the final regular-season meeting between the two teams, with the Scorps holding a 2-1 edge thus far. Then it's onto Corpus Christi (more on them later) where the IceRays are fighting for the same 5th-and-final playoff spot in the Southern Conference. The South Texas swing concludes with a matinee in Odessa on Sunday against a Jackalopes team that surely has not forgotten the 5-0 whipping they received less than a week ago. It's going to be a critical 3-in-3 stretch that's going to require every last bit of effort from the Scorpions, who realistically need at least 5 out of 6 points on the weekend

Elsewhere:

• Very surprising news out of Corpus Christi, where the IceRays have decided to fire first-year coach Sylvain Cloutier in the midst of a heated playoff race. Cloutier will reportedly be replaced by former Austin Ice Bats bench boss Brent Hughes. Keep an eye on Greg Rajan's blog for more details as they become available
  

Bucks 4, Scorpions 2

Echoes of the first half of the season in this one, as the Scorpions managed to shoot themselves in the foot more than a few times -- the only difference is that they did it in the game's late stages, rather than digging themselves a hole early on.

Observations:

• There were plenty of mistakes on the ice tonight, but it ultimately boiled down to three big ones that cost the Scorps a shot at two points. The first has to be Matt Miller's goal 18 seconds into the third period. Every goalie gives up bad goals, but with the way Kyle McNulty had been playing, you never would have expected such a critical error at such a critical time. That goal gave Laredo the lead and a chance to, once again, fall into their lull-you-to-sleep defensive game that most hockey fans wish died with the two-line pass. For his part, Miller regained his crown as the king of soft goals at the SASC -- did anyone honestly think Miller's weak shot from the off-wing would beat Scott Reid to win this game? The second mistake that hurt the Scorpions was the slashing penalty to Chris Robertson that negated a quick-response goal. I didn't see the penalty, but I can't imagine what Robertson was thinking throwing a slash, even a retaliatory one, after his pass sprung Trimm and Delforte on a 2-on-1 deep in the Bucks' zone. It brought back memories of game 5 against Arizona last year, when Craig Macdonald's slash behind the play washed out a Mitch Stephens goal, turning what would have been a two-goal game into an 8-5 blowout. The last mistake tonight falls on the shoulders of Torren Delforte, who plays such a smart, hard-fought game that he's rarely at fault. Delforte had a chance to tie the game at 3-3 late in the third period after Neil Trimm threaded him a beautiful pass in the low slot, but the usually savvy rookie tried too hard to pick his corner and completely missed the net from inside the hashmarks. If you a get a golden opportunity like that against a defensive powerhouse like Laredo, you need to at least make the goalie work, especially late in the game. Opportunism is the only way to beat such a solid two-way team
• Brent Cullaton's empty-netter will hurt the Scorpions' penalty-kill stats on a night where their shorthanded unit was otherwise reliable. Randy Murphy seems to have really tightened up his PK unit in the past few weeks, and the results have been there for the Scorps. Getting the powerplay going is another issue altogether, and one that needs to be addressed quickly
• There were a couple of epic battles in the corners between Delforte and Laredo's Serge Dube. Dube is one of the league's premier defensemen and a guy who really knows how to play the game, but Delforte gave the Bucks' captain all he could handle down low.
• I have to hand it to the Bucks' top line -- the first goal of the game was absolutely beautiful. The build-up to the play, starting with Dube and Cullaton in the defensive zone, was about as picture-perfect as any coach could draw it up. They made the neutral zone look uncharacteristically big, and Darryl Smith's finesse finish was icing on the cake. Man, are those guys talented. With the likes of Jeff Bes, Rick Kozak, Bobby Russell and Steve Weidlich all waiting in the wings, it's just plain scary to think about what this team could look like come playoff time
• One bright spot for the Scorpions tonight was the play of Tom Maldonado. He's definitely been feeling the hip check as of late, and it was quite the sight to see the 5'9" Maldonado plant the 6'4" Erick Lizon square on his butt in the corner. Oh yeah, that mid-air goal wasn't too shabby either
  

Bucks 3, Scorpions 1

There's really not much to say, as this had to be of the most aggressively mediocre hockey games I have ever seen. In short, fans only got to see 20 minutes of well-contested hockey.

Observations:

• The only other time I've had any quarrel with officiating was after Colorado's 2-1 "victory" on Dec. 20, but there was no getting past Kevin Graber's performance tonight. I know it makes me sound like a complete homer, but what game was Graber watching? The second period effectively killed any excitement, energy or rhythm that the game had after 20 minutes. It wasn't just the calls against the Scorpions either -- it started with the interference call to Alex Goupil that lead to the game's first goal. No player is dumb enough to level someone in open ice when his team is setting up a rush from behind the net. It was an incidental collision between Goupil and Mike MacDonald, and it should have gone uncalled. But to even things up by giving the Bucks consecutive 5-on-3 powerplays in the span of 7 minutes? And these were LONG two-man advantages, too. I also have trouble understanding how Chris Robertson gets called for an everyday slash when Laredo's first goal came because Robertson's stick got slashed clean out of his hands on the faceoff. If a referee is has make-up calls on his agenda, he needs to ensure that he goes about making those calls tastefully. Five consecutive penalties and a pair of extended 5-on-3's is just ridiculous
• Sebastian Centomo really didn't have much in the way of difficult saves tonight, but he responded admirably when called upon. He made a great save on a Seth Leonard tip during the second period, and the right pad he flashed to rob Ross McCain in the third was arguably a game-saver. For the most part, however, his teammates were doing a good job of limiting the Scorpions to outside shots and letting Centomo see them when they came. The Scorps can't afford to put the bulk of their shots into Centomo's chest if they want to win round 2
• Two controversial goals tonight, one for each side. First was Torren Delforte's tally, which Centomo argued should not have counted because the net was rocking back and forth on the moorings. As I could best tell, the net never came completely dislodged, and the puck rolled down Centomo's back and in, so there's no chance that it snuck through the side when the net was lifted up. For Laredo's part, there's a big question mark surrounding the go-ahead goal in the second. Serge Dube was given credit for the goal, but I think everyone in attendance (even the guys in the press box at the other end of the arena) saw Dube make at least two dramatic kicking motions at the puck prior to it crossing the line. There was a huge scramble in front so I couldn't see what ultimately happened, but I am in agreement with a few other folks that, if Dube was getting credit for the goal, it should not have counted. I wouldn't have a problem with someone else stuffing the puck in, but Dube's part in the play definitely constitutes a "distinct kicking motion"
• Aside from the sweet two-man save between Kyle McNulty and Tom Maldonado, the Scorpions did next to nothing to get their fans or their team into the game. I was talking to Adam Minnick about this after the game, and we were both pretty surprised that Adam Knight didn't try to mix things up with someone after the Bucks went up 2-1. When momentum shifts that dramatically, someone needs to do something to give his team a spark, and nobody really stepped up for the Scorpions. Then again, who knows what Graber may have called...?
• Lastly, and this is petty grumbling on my part, but why isn't Goupil's goal an empty-netter on pointstreak? Again, it's just a minor issue, but that goal shouldn't be counted towards McNulty's goals against average. Hopefully they get that sorted out.

Play-by-play fun

Steve McCall's job just got a little more enjoyable with these two signings in Tulsa:

Tulsa	02/13/09	ADD Maccarone, Matt (F) signed contract
Tulsa	02/12/09	ADD DiMarzo, Augie (F) signed contract

Aren't awesome names what hockey should really be all about?

Aaaaaaaaahahahahaha

Sorry if this upsets anyone, but I'm not the biggest fan of Michael Phelps. The guy's uber-talented and all, but my cousin trained with him at the University of Michigan and said he was an complete jerk to -- well -- everyone.

So I had a pretty good chuckle when I stumbled upon news of the Milwaukee Admirals' "Don't Be Like Mike" Night.

How are these for promotional ideas?

• All fans who are graduates of a DARE program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) can get into the game for just $2 by bringing their DARE graduation certificate to the Admirals' office or the Bradley Center box office.

• Anyone with the name Michael, Phelps, Mary Jane, Cheech, Chong, Weed (Wied) or anyone who has won an Olympic Gold Medal can also get their ticket for only $2.

• The team is giving away a weed wacker from National Ace Hardware, signed by the Admirals.

• If the team scores with 4:20 -- a number that's synonymous with pot culture -- on the clock in any period, one fan will win a season ticket for the following season.

• The team is providing a document shredder outside of section 225 for fans to destroy their own incriminating, Phelps-like photos.

Scorpions 5, Jackalopes 0

For the first time this season, the Scorpions capitalized on the momentum of back-to-back wins, and this was the result. I could see the Scorpions giving the Southwest Division leaders a decent game, but I never would have predicted a complete shut down of the league's second-best offense. Coupled with Arizona's 5-3 loss at Colorado, the Scorpions now sit 7 points of a playoff spot with 2 games in hand on the 5th place Sundogs.

Observations:

• Hats off the Kyle McNulty. The guy is playing with a ton of confidence, and it's spread to the players in front of him too. Tonight was a great all-around defensive effort, but McNulty deserves the bulk of the credit for earning his first career shutout against one of the league's most formidable attacks
• The most ominous storyline going into tonight was the matchup of Odessa's (at the time) top-ranked powerplay against New Mexico's (at the time) worst-ranked penalty kill. If the shutout didn't make for a surprising enough statistic, the Scorpions' perfect 7-for-7 on the PK certainly did. A few posts here and there didn't hurt the cause
• How about Mr. Craig Macdonald? Maybe he felt like he had to one-up linemates Seth Leonard and Jamie Herrington after their slick hook-up on Saturday, but the Scorps' leading goalscorer had what is probably the goal of the year to this point. He pulled a curl-and-drag that sent Garrett Gruenke clear from the hashmarks to the goalline on his stomach, then deftly tucked the puck 5-hole on Juha Toivonen. I hope Gruenke managed to find his jockstrap before the bus left
• I missed the first few minutes of the game, so I didn't catch Torren Delforte's penalty shot. Did he really juggle the puck and still score? I'll be watching Nifty...

Scorpions 4, Rush 3 (SO)

I don't think any one of the 4,515 in attendance at the SASC left disappointed after one of the best hockey games in the building's three-year existence. It was the consummate hockey experience, with unbelievable goaltending, crushing hits and highlight reel goals -- and for the first time all season, you could really tell that the Scorpions wanted those two points. Also, congrats to Tom Maldonado on his first professional goal in North America.

Observations:

• Every discussion of this game should start with Miguel Beaudry. The former Scorp was absolutely lights out in goal and, much like Kyle McNulty the night before, gave his team a fighting chance after the first period. When the Rush built the lead up to 2-0, I think a lot of people probably thought the Scorps were done. And when Beaudry made that otherworldy goalline save on Neil Trimm late in the second, I truly did not think he would be beaten on the night. At the end of the night, every member of the Scorpions, save McNulty and backup goaltender Paul Farias, had thrown at least one shot on the Rapid City netminder.
  
• In the other crease, McNulty had another very stellar start for the Scorps. His performance was clearly overshadowed by Beaudry's heroics, but several of McNulty's 21 saves came off quality scoring chances. He was also very steady in the shootout (more on that later). Not bad for a guy who's last start came more than a calendar year ago, and who joked during the jersey auction that his last back-to-back starts were probably three years ago.
  
• The Scorpions deserved to give up a goal or two to start the second period. There were probably a good half-dozen defensive zone turnovers that resulted in glorious scoring chances for the Rush, and McNulty could only do so much. In a 0-0 game, guys need to focus on just clearing their zone rather than looking to start an ill-advised rush
• I've bagged on the guy for years because of his tendency to whine nonstop, but Chris Lipsett is one hell of an offensive player. What hands to pull the puck from below the goalline and go roof on McNulty for the Rush's second goal. And then there was that shootout goal... Old No. 27 just knows how to hurt the Scorpions
• The Rush had their gem of a goal, and boy did the Scorpions have theirs to go up 3-2 in the third. Jamie Herrington and Seth Leonard made things look almost too easy, with the latter taking a gorgeous drop pass from Herrington and beating Beaudry with a finesse shot against the grain. If those two continue to click together, watch out!
• Has Jordan Foote ever met someone he wasn't willing to hit?
• I'll admit it...after Leonard was stuffed on the penalty shot in the first, I was pretty skeptical of the Scorps' chances in a shootout. Beaudry is a great goaltender one-on-one, and only the Colorado Eagles have been in more shootouts than the Rush. But the Scorps kept things simple and got the job done, paced by "breakaway specialist" Craig Macdonald (see Adam Minnick for inside joke). Torren Delforte finally managed to beat Beaudry after leading all players with 7 shots during regulation and OT, and what poetic justice for reigning Jeff File Unsung Hero Award winner Ross McCain to steal the spotlight in his first weekend back with the Scorpions
• Lastly, what an amazing, lively crowd at the SASC. They absolutely exploded when Maldonado finally got the home team on the board, and they stayed behind their boys until the game was decided. It says a lot that one of the loudest ovations of the third period came for Chris Robertson's diving clear on an early Rapid City powerplay. Those are the kinds of fans who help teams win at home
  

Scorpions 5, Rush 3

This was one of the few times all season that the Scorpions showed up and played a road-style game at home. It was a perfect example of the hard-nosed, no frills hockey that Randy Murphy's guys will need to play down the stretch if they stand a chance of being in the playoff picture.

Observations:

• Great game by the Leonard/Herrington/Macdonald line. Herrington seems to have found some instant chemistry with his new linemates, and that line very easily could've put up 2 or 3 more goals on the evening
• Both of Aaron MacInnis' assists were absolutely beautiful. The stretch pass to Macdonald on the first goal was an a tape-to-tape bullet, and Miguel Beaudry had zero chance on the Herrington tip-in for goal number 2
• How about the on-ice presence of the Scorpions' newly formed checking line? Jordan Foote and Adam Knight were hitting anything on skates, and even Mike MacDonald was throwing his 5'6" frame around quite a bit. As for Ross McCain, he was his usual smart, responsible self in both zone. Oh, and how about that one-touch drop pass off the skate to Knight in the second period? That was about the coolest, most creative setup I've seen at any level. If that turns into a goal, someone's on the phone to Sportscenter
  
• Kyle McNulty is making a very strong case for a starting position. He strikes me as a very calm, composed goaltender, even when the action is right on top of his crease. You can't really fault him on any of Rapid City's goals, and he is the sole reason the Scorpions took a lead into the first intermission, as they were being outshot 10-2 before Macdonald's tally stole the momentum back

Elsewhere:

• Rocky Mountain makes an emphatic statement that they are a plenty good team without Brent Cullaton
• The scoreline and the shot count tell two completely different stories between Texas and Colorado. Did the Brahmas outplay the Eagles or did Brett Jaeger steal one for the Southern Conference?
• That other team from the Ft. Worth area (sorta) rips the Blueshirts 10-2. Any thoughts, Josh Rael?
  

McCain, Foote join the fold

Two more transactions of note, that somehow didn't appear on pointstreak when I looked earlier today.

New Mexico

02/06/09

ADD Foote, Jordan (F) signed contract

New Mexico

02/06/09

ADD McCain, Ross (F) signed contract

It sounds like the Scorpions are going to have a bonafide checking line come tonight. It's great to see McCain back in the lineup, as he was, in my opinion, the best defensive centerman the Scorpions have had. As for Foote, he'll bring some much-needed size to the front line. Hopefully this will help to slow the Scorpions' defensive woes and put them somewhere in the playoff picture.

Another goalie shakeup?

Obviously these two transactions stick out for Scorps fans:

New Mexico	02/06/09	ADD Farias, Paul (G) signed contract
New Mexico	02/06/09	DEL Gibb, Ryan (G) granted leave by league

I don't know what the story is on Gibb, and I'm trying to get some information as soon as possible. Paul "Paulie" Farias is one of the Scorps' assistant equipment managers and a local rec league goaltender (thank you to facebook for the photo). This is pretty similar to the situation a couple seasons back when Mike Newall dressed for a few games with the Scorps after Cacciola broke his hand. No doubt that Kyle McNulty will get the nod for both games this weekend, as I'm assuming this is just a short-term problem. If not, hopefully Randy Murphy has some tricks up his sleeve.

Mazzei Waived

The Scorpions waived forward John Mazzei today, which could be indicative of several different things. Mind you, this is speculation, at best. Here are my ideas as to what could be going on:

1) Jordan Foote has finally cleared immigration and will officially sign in the coming days

2) Tyler Fuller is coming off the IR

3) The rumors surrounding the phantom appearance of one Ross McCain at the SASC several weeks ago are, in fact, true

4) Someone else is on the way and Randy Murphy is making room on the roster

Honestly, I think that any one of those 4 scenarios would be great for the Scorpions right about now. We'll see in the coming days, possibly even hours, what this move means. I'll be sure to report anything I hear or see!

As for Mazzei, he was another one of the many great young guys on this team. He had a phenomenal work ethic, and I thought he did a very respectable job as a scorer playing on a checking line. Hopefully Mazzei can find his way into a lineup where he'll get to showcase his offensive prowess a bit more.

There are moves...

...and then there are moves! Brent Cullaton is (un)officially a member of the Laredo Bucks once again, according to the Bucks beat writer Joy Lindsay. Never in a million years would I expect a surging team like Rocky Mountain to cough up arguably the league's most creative playmaker for -- ahem -- future considerations!!!!! More on this when the official press release comes from Laredo following their "huge press conference" later today. I mean you should see this thing...it's huge.

As Lindsay so appropriately notes,

"Hopefully this means Bucks fans will stop booing Cullaton every time he touches the puck at the LEC."

Let the league decide...

I didn't get a chance to see watch either of the Scorpions' games against the Eagles this weekend but after reading the banter on the boards, I felt compelled to watch the replay of Saturday night's contest just to see the nature of Greg Pankewicz's cross-check.

All I can say is that I'm disgusted as well. Adam Minnick hit it right on the head by saying that Pankewicz's conduct was completely unbecoming of someone wearing a captain's "C." Delivering a blind cross-check to the side of a player's head warrants at minimum a 5-minute major and a game misconduct, let alone some kind of suspension.

It shouldn't matter that Ryan Gibb wasn't hurt by the incident -- it's the whole principle of "intent to injure." Pankewicz has been prone to snap before, but at least he's had the respect to confront his opponents face-to-face. Obviously a Nifty feed still leaves plenty of the things to the imagination, but you can tell from the replay that Gibb did absolutely nothing physically to provoke Pankewicz. I also don't imagine a goaltender has the time to chirp at an offensive player when the puck is being cycled in his own zone.

I truly do hope that Randy Murphy caught the incident on tape and forwarded it to league officials for review. Regardless of the guy's talent level, Pankewicz should be skating on very thin ice given his behavior this season

"You have to give something in return"

Randy Murphy pulled the trigger on a deal to sure up his team's situation between the pipes, sending Mitch Stephens to Laredo in exchange for rookie goaltender Ryan Gibb. As Murphy noted, it's hard to let a guy like Stephens go, especially with how steady the Stephens/Macdonald/Leonard line has been all season. But with the Bucks in need of offense, and the Scorpions starved for consistency in goal, it's a win/win deal for both sides.

Stephens will undoubtedly provide Terry Ruskowski will some additional firepower, especially with the supporting cast he'll have in Laredo. My only question is whether Stephens will fit into an aggressive, hard-hitting system like Ruskowski's. I'd been rather impressed by his willingness to take the body in the past few games, but he's going to need to up the intensity if he wants regular minutes with the Bucks -- anyone who reads Joy Lindsay's blog knows that Ruskowski does not suffer mediocrity gladly.

Also, reader and Scorpions fan mi3ke is working on a survey of the 10 most memorable moments in Scorpions history. I will post a link below, as well as permalink on the blog itself. Your voting is much-appreciated!

VOTE HERE

An equally interesting development in all of this is Andrew Martin being waived. Clearly Randy Murphy saw something either in practice or in the scouting report for Kyle McNulty that spurred him to keep the recently-signed netminder over the former all-star Martin. Now, it doesn't take an expert eye to recognize that Martin has not been the same as he was last season. His time in camp with the San Antonio Rampage brought him into the season with a ton of confidence, but the shoddy defense he had in front of him all but ruined that confidence early on, and Martin simply hasn't recovered. This will be a great opportunity for Gibb and McNulty, both de facto backups, to prove their worth as starters.

Important Edit

Apparently there have been some rumors flying around that have been passed off as truth, and I made the mistake of reporting one before checking.

General manager Gary Gelinas has not left the Scorpions organization. I made the mistake of valuing the site where I found the information over the source that provided it. Director of Media Relations Adam Minnick had this to say:

"The rumors about Gary resigning are not true. He still works and runs the Scorpions on a daily basis."

Slow blog xing

My apologies to those of you kind enough to frequent this blog, but the entries are going to be few and far between over the next 1-2 weeks with school starting up. Anyone who's been there knows how crazy and hectic it can be sorting out a college schedule and finding a rhythm each semester, so I implore you to be even more active on the team forums and, should there be something you want me to address, leave a comment and I'll hopefully post an entry on it as soon as possible!

On that same note, this didn't really leave much to blog about, other than the complete and utter lack of intensity you'd expect from a divisional matchup during the playoff stretch. Let's hope there's a swift turnaround in the next 36 hours, because if the Scorpions think they're going to beat the Jackalopes on talent alone, they are dead wrong. Randy Murphy's bench will also be one defenseman short, as Dan McGoff was waived today. Presumably Andrew Smale will move back to D full-time, with Adam Knight taking shifts on the checking line

Murph finds his muscle?

Saw this little tidbit on pointstreak today:

New Mexico

01/17/09

ADD Knight, Adam (F) claimed off waivers

Hopefully this helps to address the need for some muscle in the Scorps' lineup. Knight seemed to be pretty highly valued with Colorado, albeit underused. I know there has been much clamoring around the boards about picking up an enforcer -- maybe the Scorps' offense can relax and find some consistency now that they guys know someone has their back

Could this be a trend?

In the wake of 21-year-old Dan Sanderson's death (see blog entry "Makes you think"), the Ontario Hockey League issued a new rule regarding the customary removing of the helmet before a fight. I think it's a viable concern and I wouldn't be entirely surprised if some of the minor hockey ranks followed suit, including the leagues in which visors are mandatory. Here's the official rulebook entry:

“If a player should remove his helmet or undo his chinstrap prior to or during an altercation, such player shall receive a game misconduct in addition to any other penalties assessed and an automatic one (1) game suspension. If a player should remove his helmet or undo his chinstrap prior to entering into an altercation, and his opponent does not remove his helmet, the player removing his helmet shall receive a two minute minor penalty, a game misconduct penalty in addition to any other penalties assessed and an automatic one (1) game suspension.

If a player should remove an opponent’s helmet or undo an opponent’s chinstrap prior to or during an altercation, such player shall receive an automatic game misconduct penalty in addition to any other penalties assessed and a one (1) game suspension.

If during the course of an altercation a player or player’s helmets should become dislodged, the linesmen are to intervene immediately”.

And that's a wrap...

More tomorrow night when I get home, but this has been way too long of a day/night to type anymore. So here's the release for the Scorps and a photo of Reeder's 4th goal. The guy absolutely owned the ice tonight...

Loveland, COLO. -

Former New Mexico Scorpion Konrad Reeder posted 5 points (4g, 1a) and the host Colorado Eagles used a 5-goal third period to defeat the Central Hockey League All-Stars in the CHL's 2008-2009 version of the midseason classic.
The all-star game format, in which a team of select players from around the league took on the host club, was a first for the CHL.
The two sides were tied at 3-3 entering the third period before Reeder, who had a goal in each of the first two periods, completed his hat trick at the 1:12 mark, finishing a textbook give-and-go with Eagles captain Greg Pankewicz. The marker started a 5-goal outburst that put the game well out of reach.
Ed McGrane put the Eagles up 5-3 at the 4:02 mark of the third when his wrist shot from the point eluded Laredo Bucks goaltender Sebastian Centomo. Riley Nelson added a powerplay goal at 5:13 to widen the gap to 6-3, one-timing a Scott Polaski pass from the high slot. Reeder finished his big night at the 8:26 mark, taking a Kevin Ulanski pass and outmaneuvering Centomo for a shorthanded goal. Jay Birnie capped the run at 15:15, firing a wrist shot under the crossbar from the left circle. The Arizona Sundogs' Joel Irving added a powerplay tally in the game's dying minutes to bring the CHL all-stars within 8-4. Scorpions defenseman Aaron MacInnis had an assist on the play for his lone point of the night.
The all-stars outshot the Eagles 49-31 for the contest, but goaltenders Andrew Penner and Morgan Cey stood strong between the pipes.
Reeder started the scoring for the Eagles just 1:12 into the game, stuffing a backdoor feed from Ulanski past starting netminder Andy Franck of the Oklahoma City Blazers. Pankewicz extended the lead to 2-0 at the 8:41 mark with a turnaround blast that beat Franck off the crossbar. The all-stars cut the lead in half in the final minute of the opening period, as Rio Grande Valley's Nicolas Dumoulin tipped a cross-ice feed from Amarillo's Sam Ftorek past Penner.
The momentum carried into the second period as Laredo's Darryl Smith cashed in on a turnover in deep to tie the game at 2-2 just 23 seconds into the middle stanza. Reeder answered with his second goal at the 2:58 mark to put the Eagles back in front, tipping in another back-door pass, this time from Ed McGrane. Odessa's Russ Moyer knotted things up once again at 15:54, beating Cey with a backhand on a partial breakaway.
Regular season action resumes on Friday, January 16 with all 16 CHL teams in action. The Scorpions travel to the Rushmore Plaza Civic Arena for their first ever matchup against the expansion Rapid City Rush. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. MST.

A whole new kind of game

For all the hype that's going into tonight's all-star game, someone sure better deliver. I dropped by the BEC for morning skate today, and even members of the grounds crew were grumbling amongst each other, saying things like "so they're really playing against the all-stars?" and "is that even fair?" (I sure hope the latter was referring to the Eagles, not the all-stars).

From all of the interviews I've heard and the couple of folks I've talked to, it sounds like no one really knows what to expect when the puck drops tonight. Is it going to be a typical all-star game until someone throws the first check? Is it going to be rough-and-tumble right off the bat? Surely there are too many skill guys out there to play an overly physical game -- right?

One thing I do have to say is that my hat's off to the Eagles organization for the time and effort they have put into this couple of days. The Fort Collins Marriott was definitely buzzing during the banquet last night, and the BEC looks pretty amazing. I really hope that anyone who watches the game has a chance to see the video introduction that they put together, as well.

And then there are the uniforms. The duds for both teams look really sharp, the CHL side especially. The Eagles also managed to equip players with full all-star gear too, including color-matched gloves and helmets (see photo). About my only real issue is with the logo -- I think they could've done a lot more with it, or at minimum made it just a tad bit smaller. Still, I don't remember the all-star jerseys every looking as good as they do.

Unfortunately for me, the batteries in my recorder died before I could find Aaron MacInnis at the banquet. What I did manage to get, however, was a fun little interview with Phil Pritchard, the keeper of the Stanley Cup, who is busy making visits to each of pro hockey's all-star festivites. Pritchard, who has been travelling with the cup for 21 years now, had this to say:

Q: You said you've been doing this for 21 years now. How did you come into this job in the first place?

A: Well my wife always says that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time -- but for a hockey fan, which I am and always have been, I was at the right spot at the right time. I took a sports administration course at school and interned and volunteered and in 1988, there I was taking the Cup out for the very first time to a minor hockey event in New Market, Ontario.

Q: What are some of your favorite or most memorable experiences with the Cup?

A: Well every year during the Stanley Cup finals when you present it on the ice is phenomenal. It's pandemonium, it's wild, it's crazy, it's an experience of a lifetime. But when you get the opportunities to travel with the guys, to take it home to their mom and dad, whether it's in Northern Canada or Massachusetts or Siberia like we did last year with Pavel Datsyuk, or the Czech Republic with Hasek -- Teemu Selanne had a sauna party in Helsinki. It's all neat but it means so much to the guys because they're worked their lives towards winning it. For me to be a part of that is pretty special, so every one of them is pretty special in a way.

Q: How many days out of the year do you spend travelling with the Cup?

A: I'm probably on the road 150-plus days, or something like that

Q: What does your wife think of that?

A: (laughs) Well she knows that I'm a hockey fan. It's a neat thing -- we've got three kids and they're at the age now where they think it's pretty cool what their dad does so that's a good thing for any parent. I have my sons playing hockey so hockey's part of our family now, so it's a part of our life at work, play and rest. I just have to convert her into a hockey fan and bring her out to some of these places

Q: Do you think you might have a family legacy? Maybe have one of your kids taking care of the Cup?

A: That'd be neat, but it would be even better if I could present it to my son one day. You know, every dad probably says that, so I'm just happy that my life's spent loving the game.

Let the all-star speak!

I'm planning on posting a little all-star Q&A with Aaron MacInnis tonight after the banquet officially kicks off the mid-season festivities. I have my own slew of questions to run by Mac, but if anyone has any questions they would like to have answered, please post them on here ASAP and I'll be sure to get your response posted tonight!

The end of the first half

With this afternoon's game in Amarillo officially ending the first half of the season (not numerically, but symbolically), the Scorpions have their work cut out if they want to paint themselves anywhere in the playoff picture. In a first half marred by bad starts, suspect decision-making and, above all, inconsistency, the good thing is that Randy Murphy has plenty of things his team can improve on. The onus is on him to make his guys commit to his improvements and play like the team everyone has seen flashes of this season. Here's a look at the numbers game thus far, along with some third-party observations and possible fixes. I encourage any readers to speak your minds here, talk about what you think will help as well.

The Numbers:

• 147- goals allowed by the Scorpions, good enough for last place in the league. This is clearly the stat the Scorpions need to improve upon the most. Goaltending has been at fault on a few occassions, but Andrew Martin and Jason Wolfe have been pretty reliable when they've had a team defense in front of them. Getting Adam Blanchette and Tyler Fuller off the IR will help the Scorps' cause, especially given that they've consistently been the only plus-rated players on the Scorpions'. If Randy Murphy makes a move before the trade deadline, I wouldn't be surprised to see him add an experienced d-man to help flesh out his blueline corps
• 5-10-2- the Scorpions' record at home. In the past two years, the Scorpions have been one of the Southern Conference's best teams at home, compiling an overall record of 42-16-6 at the Santa Ana Star Center. The team's 10 regulation home losses at the all-star break is more than they had in the whole of each of the past two seasons. It's gotta be tough to play in front of such small crowds, but the Scorpions need to get past that and start utilizing the comfort of playing at home as well as the altitude. The Scorpions start the month of February with a 6-game homestand that includes double-headers against Rapid City and Laredo, with a midweek contest against Odessa sandwiched in between. It's going to be crucial for the Scorps to start showing up at home, especially given the limited number of contests they have against the teams they're chasing for a playoff spot (see entry below)
  
• 15.3% / 75.4 % - the Scorpions' powerplay and penalty kill percentages, good enough for 14th and 15th in the league, respectively. It's been a sticking point since the Ray Edwards era that the Scorpions, on a talent level, should be able to hang with any team in this league 5-on-5. The Scorpions have had their troubles at even-strength this season (-55 rating as a team) but the special teams play has been completely unreliable. The powerplay has shown flashes of brilliance (exhibit A) and has looked beyond bad (exhibit B). One of the biggest problems, in my mind, has been the absence of a pointman to complement Aaron MacInnis. Obviously Vladi Hartinger left a huge void, and the once-dynamic powerplay has taken a huge hit because of it. Mitch Stephens has great vision, but he's not comfortable enough at the blueline and having a forward at the point is always a liability if you turn the puck over. The penalty kill, for its part, has been the single biggest thorn in the Scorpions' side this season. The Scorpions have only lost three games (0-2-1) when they have gone perfect on the penalty kill, but those occassions have been few and far between. It really hurts when your team has allowed the second most powerplay goals in the league (56) while facing the third fewest shorthanded opportunites (228).
• 7- the number of games the Scorpions have remaining against main playoff competitors (2 games vs. Corpus Christi, 1 game vs. Rio Grande Valley, 4 games vs. Arizona). Fittingly enough, those 4 games against the Sundogs make up 4 of the final 6 games of the season, meaning the playoff picture could very well hinge on that half-dozen games if the Scorpions can make a push. Historically, the Scorpions have done pretty well in four-point games during the second half, but they're going to need some favors from other teams around the league this year.

State of the Scorpions

Adam Minnick sent out this release today, updating the Scorpions' fanbase as to the economic struggles the team has endured this season. I know there has been a lot of public outcry regarding the discretion with which the organization has handled its money issues -- many people, season ticket holders especially, believe that their investment in the organization entitles them to all of the information. This is certainly true in some sense, but at the same time, businesses reserve the right to disclose information at their leisure. In spite of all the negative publicity and suspect rumors, I believe the Scorpions organization and those who support it are and will continue to be committed to finishing out this season and getting the entire operation pointed in the right direction.

Scorpions Making Changes to Survive and Thrive

[RIO RANCHO, N.M.]—
The New Mexico Scorpions Professional Hockey team is not immune to the current
economic challenges that exist for small businesses. In an effort to survive the
current season the organization has had to make some very difficult business
decision, focusing on those items essential to the business while eliminating
those deemed non essential. This year to franchise will once again loss money.
The organization will be restructuring its entire business model to ensure the
survival of the season.

Over the past three years, the ownership
group has lost over $1,000,000 due to a lack of support. While they have
committed to keep the business in operation, this year has proved to be
especially challenging.

“It is very important we focus on our fans
and corporate partners during this tough time and still provide a good product
on and off the ice,” said Gary Gelinas, Scorpions President. “Focusing on
the fans and having a grass roots sales effort will be the key to getting more
people at our games for the remainder of the season.”
Most recently, the
organization made a difficult decision to terminate the broadcast partnership
with Citadel Broadcasting. The team cannot afford the financial commitment that
was required to Citadel as the organization goal is to keep an office staff and
on ice team operating. Citadel Broadcasting, including our flagship home 610 The
Sports Animal, has been a very solid partner to the Scorpions and it is very
unfortunate that this decision had to be made.

The current
ownerships goal is to continue this current season while looking to bring on
local investors. It is critical that the team is owned locally to ensure the
corporate community steps up to support the team and facility and to help
promote the team to the community. This will be a key to the survival of hockey
in New Mexico.
“The ownership group is committed to taking the steps to keep
hockey in New Mexico,” said Dave Ellett, Scorpions Owner.
The organization is
still in operation and will be playing its games as scheduled and asks that fans
continue to show support, purchase tickets and spread the word of the great
building. The corporate community continues to support the organization as that
is necessary for both the Santa Ana Star Center and the
Scorpions.

The team will have some of the largest crowds of the
season for the upcoming games. On January 24th, American Cancer Society Night
jersey auction the annual “Kids Day” game will attract over 5,000 students,
Salute to the Badges jersey auction game on February 7th and UNM Lobo jersey
night against great rivals as we push towards the playoffs.

Rage 5, Scorpions 3

As Adam Minnick said during the broadcast, this is definitely one that got away from the Scorps. They had plenty of chances to get back in the game, especially in the third period, but as has been the case most of this season, they just couldn't capitalize and swing the momentum.

Observations:

• Quite a game from Chris Robertson, who single-handedly carried the Scorpions' offense and very well could have potted 5 or even 6 goals on the night if you count the crossbar in the dying seconds, the robbery by Scott Reid off a rebound and the shot Robo fired just wide of the post from the low slot. I'm sure Randy Murphy's hoping the rest of the team can play with that kind of fire
• This was the third straight game against Rocky Mountain in which the Rage have burned the Scorps for a shorthanded goal. Not only that, but it came in the last minute of a period, which is one of hockey's Cardinal sins
• What is up with the Scorpions and penalty shots? Dating back to the preseason finale against Amarillo, the Scorpions are 0-for-9 in one-on-one situations this season. It could very well be a good thing that they haven't gone to a shootout yet. Still, with playoff races as tight as they tend to be, the Scorps need to figure something out if they want a fighting chance at picking up two points in the post-overtime session

Elsewhere:

• Texas ties Odessa for a share of the Southern Conference lead with a 5-4 OT win in OKC
• Nothing's worse for a goalie than stealing a game for your team, only to have them give it right back

More help on the blueline

Randy Murphy made more repairs to the Scorpions' ailing blueline by adding rookie defenseman Dan McGoff. Scorpions fans probably aren't going to be thrilled with McGoff's size (5'9") but he not only boasts some ECHL experience (26 games between the Trenton Devils and the Stockton Thunder) but also some valuable leadership experience on the international level, having captained the U.S. Under-17 Select Team in 2002 and having served as an alternate captain on the U.S. Under-18 Select Team the following year. I also can't argue with anyone who's put on a Boston University Terriers sweater...

Makes you think...

A tragic and rather fluke incident raises a lot of pertinent questions about the place fighting has in the sport of hockey. The practice is obviously a mainstay in the game and has been for years -- as Bill Clement said, more people go to hockey games for the fighting than stay away because of it -- but this really makes you think twice about the merits of "legalizing" fighting. I'm sure most of you remember this incident a couple of seasons ago from a scrap between Kevin Harvey and Rio Grande Valley's Dale Butland. That was as shaken up as anyone ever saw Harvs, and as evidenced in the story above, things could have been a lot worse. Thoughts?

Weekend Review

As happy as I'm sure Randy Murphy was with his team's performance Saturday night, he was probably hoping that it wouldn't take a dismal effort like Friday's to motivate his troops. Now comes time for arguably the most important stretch of the Scorpions' season, with 9 of their next 11 games on the road. That swing includes double-headers at Rocky Mountain, Amarillo, Rapid City and Colorad0, with a home-and-home series against Odessa. It may be a blessing in disguise for the Scorps, who can't seem to find any consistency at home. Still, it's going to be a very difficult schedule, especially with two of their three plus-rated defensemen watching from the stands in Tyler Fuller (+2) and Adam Blanchette (+4).

I know that Randy Murphy likes to break the season up into 10-game segments, but this next road trip should almost be a six-game segment in itself. With the playoff race officially getting started, the Scorpions need to take points whenever they can get them. That means no more falling behind early and playing catchup for the last 40 minutes. Too often this season, the Scorpions have wasted decent periods of hockey by digging themselves too deep of a hole. Of the 12 points up for grabs on this road swing, I don't think the Scorpions can afford to come away with any fewer than 8 points of their own. Those points in Amarillo are without a doubt the most critical, and you know that Murphy is going to be pushing for his guys to take both of those games in regulation.

One of the things to watch during this stretch is how Murphy handles his line combinations. He completely shook things up after the Rocky Mountain game, and the lines he put together against Rio Grande Valley worked extremely well at both ends of the ice. If you didn't pick up on it, here's the forward lines looked Saturday:

Robertson - Herrington - Leonard
Delforte - Stephens - C. Macdonald
Trimm - Mazzei - M. MacDonald/Smale

That top line seemed to click right away (22 shots between the 3 of them) but they couldn't quite finish -- that will soon follow I imagine. Delforte adds a little more grit to that second line and gives Stephens and Macdonald someone who can win some battles in the corner and free up those offensive lanes. I was also pleasantly surprised with Macdonald's two-way play on Saturday as well as Stephens' willingness to throw the body. If those two can be a little more physical and buy themselves more time, the offensive potential will skyrocket. As for the checking line, Murphy seemed the recognize the instant chemistry between Mazzei and Trimm during the third period on Friday, as he paired up the two alongside the speed-or-size complement of MacDonald and Smale.

It feels like deja vu saying this, but hopefully the Scorpions can carry the momentum from a very solid performance and use it to build a little confidence. They'll definitely need it in the month of January if they want to stay in the playoff hunt