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Sunday, April 2, 2000

Furious third-period rally nets ’Rays 7-6 OT triumph

McArthur bangs home game-winner as Corpus Christi steals first game of quarterfinal series with New Mexico

From staff and correspondent reports

SANTA FE, N.M. - Corpus Christi overcame a three-goal, third-period deficit and went on to beat New Mexico, 7-6, in overtime Saturday in Game 1 of the Western Professional Hockey League President's Cup quarterfinal series at the Chavez Community Center in Santa Fe.
   Dustin McArthur got the game-winner 6:26 into the first overtime period and Kurt Wickenheiser recorded his second hat trick in four playoff games to help the IceRays steal home-ice advantage from the Scorpions. Game 2 of the best-of-five series returns to the 1,200-seat community center Monday. Because of a scheduling conflict, the Scorpions are unable to host playoff games on their home at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, N.M. Instead, New Mexico claims home-ice advantage in the small community center.
   Games 3 and 4 are scheduled for Thursday and Friday at Memorial Coliseum. The fifth and decisive game of the series would return to Santa Fe, if necessary.
   The Scorpions held a 6-3, third period lead only to see the IceRays tie the game, 6-6, at with 7:00 to play in regulation to send it to overtime.
   After falling behind, 3-1, after the first period, the IceRays closed to within a goal, 4-3, midway through the second period.
   It wouldn't last, though, as New Mexico sprinted ahead again to take a 6-3 lead into the second intermission.
   Wickenheiser scored his second and third goals in the second period, offset by Goldie's second and goals by Randy Murphy and Travis Van Tighem.
   But Corpus Christi defenseman Paul Doherty scored a goal to tie the game with 6:59 to play in regualtion.
   The Scorpions got to Skazyk early and often to take a two-goal lead after one period.
   Back-to-back goals by Peter Ambroziak and Hugo Beltrand made it 2-0, New Mexico, 7:33 into the game.
   A penalty on IceRays forward Brad Wingfield created the first power play of the night midway through the first period, and New Mexico made it count. Goldie scored the power-play goal at 10:24 mark to give the Scorpions a 3-0 lead.
   Corpus Christi responded with a power-play goal of its own late in the first period when Wickenheiser scored his fifth goal of playoffs. Corpus Christi, the No. 5 seed in the Western Bracket, advanced to the quarterfinals by beating El Paso, tow games to one, in the first round.
  
   Corpus Christi 1 2 3 1 -- 7
   New Mexico 3 3 0 0 -- 6
   FIRST PERIOD -- 1, New Mexico, Peter Amroziak (Goldie, Van Tighem), 3:06. 2, New Mexico, Hugo Beltrand (Pengelley, McKay), 7:33. 3, New Mexico, Jeff Goldie (Van Tighem), 10:24, (pp). 4, Corpus Christi, Kurt Wickenheiser (Bumstead, Olsen), 16:20, (pp).
   SECOND PERIOD -- 5, Corpus Christi, Wickenheiser (T. Praznik, Janicki), 0:31. 6, New Mexico, Goldie (Ambroziak, Marcellus), 6:38. 7, Corpus Christi, Wickenheiser (Bumstead, J. Praznik), 8:17, (pp). 8, New Mexico, Randy Murphy (Felix, Glover), 15:49, (pp). 9, New Mexico, Travis Van Tighem (Marcellus), 19:23, (pp).
   THIRD PERIOD -- 10, Corpus Christi, Andy Ross (unassisted), 7:40. 11, Corpus Christi, Tobin Praznik (Wickenheiser, Quinnell), 8:28. 12, Corpus Christi, Paul Doherty (Roland, Wickenheiser), 13:01.
   OVERTIME -- 13, Corpus Christi, Dustin McArthur (unassisted), 6:26.
   GOALIES-Corpus Christi, Eddy Skazyk (32 saves, 6 goals), left at 20:00 of 2nd period. Jason Genik (1-0-0), entered at 0:00 of 3rd period. New Mexico, Luciano Caravaggio (0-0-1). REFEREE-Alex Brown.
   Staff writer Mark Button can be reached at 886-3613 or by e-mail at buttonm@caller.com
  

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