Friday: Rhinos – 3 @ Grit – 1
Rhinos goalie Joey LoVullo made 21 saves as El Paso scored three goals in the 3rd period to spoil the Grit’s NAHL debut with a 3-1 win. The game was scoreless through two periods with LoVullo and Colorado goalie Max Lacroix keeping all the shots out. Colorado opened the scoring early in the 3rd period with their first ever goal from Andrew Jeffers. Lacroix was shaken up midway through the final period and the Rhinos took advantage with three goals late in the game from James Hooley III, Camden Bajzer, and Frank Tafelski to make it a 3-1 final.
Saturday: Rhinos – 3 @ Grit – 2
The Rhinos won their second straight game over the Grit as Michael Manzi made 23 saves and Frank Tafelski scored all three goals in the win. Tafelski, who is in his third NAHL season, scored once in each period, including the game-winner with under a minute left in regulation. Grit goals came from Romulus Riego De Dios and Bowen Burke. Jack Erickson made 19 saves in the loss.
Sunday: Rhinos – 4 @ Grit – 2
Joey LoVollo made 16 saves as the El Paso Rhinos completed a three-game weekend road sweep of the Colorado Grit thanks to a 4-2 win on Sunday.
The balanced scoring continued for the Rhinos in Game 3 of the series as they took a 2-1 lead into the lockerroom through the first 20 minutes thanks to goals from Alex Bernauer and Medrick Bolduc, while Mason Sturm scored for the Grit.
In the 2nd period, the Rhinos made it 3-1 on a goal from Jakub Jerman and the Grit responded with a goal from Quinn Bowden to make it a 3-2 contest after two periods.
In the 3rd period, Max Giblin would add an empty-net goal to secure the win and sweep. Anthony Eaton picked up two assists in the game.
