El Paso dominated from start the finish as Trevor Erickson scored a short-handed goal just 1:06 into the game.
Anthony Knuth notched another for the home team at 12:19 of the first.
Gorup, a three-year Rhino and the team captain, showcased his skills on both of his goals, taking a feed from Bill Krueger at the El Paso blue line, carrying it all the way up the right wing, skating by his defender, then deking San Antonio goalie Anthony Maroney to the backhand and flipping the puck past him at 8:01 of the second.
Gorup followed that up by one-timing a draw won by Zach Goller and potting a top-shelf strike that Maroney never saw at 13:40 of the third.
Austin Balko finished the scoring at 18:17, weaving his way past two defenders and beating Maroney over his right shoulder.
Duff, who came into tonight with the best goals-against average in the Western States Hockey League (1.59) will certainly improve his stats turning away every Diablos shot.
The Rhinos (32-2-1) open up a 17-point lead over San Antonio (23-9-2) in the WSHL’s Mid-West Division, 65 points to 48. The two teams will play twice more, Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. MST and Sunday afternoon at 5:30 p.m. MST.
For tickets and information, go to El Paso’s website (www.elpasorhinos.com) or contact the front office at 915.479.PUCK (7825).
