(EL PASO, TX) — Jiri Pestuka and Patrik Stancl each scored twice and the El Paso Rhinos skated by the Springfield Express, 7-2, in the second game of the teams’ triple-header.
After battling most of the first period to get the opening goal in Friday night’s 5-0 win, Rhinos team captain Sebastian Borg opened the scoring at 6:37 of the first period. El Paso followed that with two quick goals just 52 seconds apart from Gavin Abbott at 9:32 and Pestuka at10:24.
David Higgs scored Springfield’s first goal of the weekend, taking advantage of a 5-on-3 to beat Adam Vay at the crease at 6:49 of the second frame.
But Stancl scored twice to close the second, at 14:05 and at 17:18, to keep the game out of reach.
Pestuka added his second at 6:05 of the third, though it was quickly answered by Express forward Per Eriksson just 26 seconds later.
Rhinos forward Bryton Tomko finished the scoring, though, courtesy of a miscue from Springfield goalie Philip Babb. Caught in the corner, Babb threw a hopeful pass back into the middle of the ice. Tomko skated by his defender, took the puck and fired it into the empty net at17:45.
El Paso improves to 27-3-0-0 and paces the WSHL’s Midwest Division with 54 points. Springfield falls to 18-14-1-0 and 37 points, still solidly in third place behind Oklahoma City.
The teams play once more Sunday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. MST. Dollar hotdogs are on the menu. For tickets and information, contact the Rhinos’ front office at 915/479.PUCK (7825), or go to www.elpasorhinos.com.
