The El Paso Rhinos closed out their three game set in Tulsa with a 10-2 victory over the Jr. Oilers on Sunday morning. In the previous two wins in the series – 6-0 on Friday and 7-1 on Saturday – there has been one scorer who carried the load for the Rhinos. On Sunday, the scoring was much more of a team effort as nine different players tallied goals against the Jr. Oilers.
Czech defenseman David Brancik opened the scoring only two minutes into the first half with an unassisted goal against Tulsa goaltender Richard Albrecht. After an interference call later in the period sent defenseman Angel Sanca to the penalty box – forward Jonah Pearson scored a shorthanded and unassisted goal. In only his sixth game with the Rhinos, Pearson scored his third goal – one in each game against the Jr. Oilers.
Another new Rhino, defenseman John Bowen would score his first goal for the team toward the end of the first period. His goal would prove to be the game winner after two second period goals from the Jr. Oilers were allowed by El Paso goaltender Adam Vay. Prior to the two Tulsa goals – both by forward Hunter Best – last night’s hat-trick hero, forward Bryton Tomko opened the second period scoring for the Rhinos. Before the second period was over, three more goals would be scored by El Paso – forward Jiri Pestuka scored at the 15:58 mark to reach 30 goals on the season, forward Sebastian Borg scored his third goal of the series at 16:45 and forward Jesse Esposito scored just before the period ended.
Forward Kendal Craig opened the third period with a lightening quick goal after only 13 seconds of play. After the Rhinos received the only penalties of the first and second periods totaling 10 minutes and allowing one power play goal, the third period opened with three penalties in a row for the Jr. Oilers. El Paso would take advantage by scoring two power play goals in the period. Borg would net his second goal of the day at the 4:45 mark with an assist by Pestuka that would give him a four point game. The final goal of the series was scored on the power play by Sanca at 11:11.
The Jr. Oilers and Rhinos will continue to do battle next weekend in El Paso. The puck drops on Friday the 6th of February at 7:30pm Mountain Time.
– Jason Green
