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