Krueger sparked the rally as well, cutting El Paso’s two-goal deficit to one at 17:05 of the third period, beating former Rhinos goalie Darius Mack to the short side.
Krueger’s linemate Nick Gorup followed that with a leaning top-shelf strike over Mack’s left shoulder just 36 seconds later to tie the game, 6-6, setting the stage for the Wisconsin native’s overtime heroics.
as the El Paso Rhinos rallied from a two-goal deficit with under three minutes to play in regulation to beat the Colorado Outlaws, 7-6, at the Sierra Providence Events Center Saturday night.
Offsetting the celebration was El Paso’s continuing problems on special teams, as the Outlaws themselves erased a two-goal deficit at the end of the first period with two short-handed goals in the second period, as Corbin Fitzgibbons stole the puck from Rhinos’ defender Josh Deloach behind the Arthur Hollinger’s net and tucked it away.
Colorado’s points-leader Curtis Smith then earned a short-handed penalty shot, deking Hollinger to his left and backhanding the goal just past the goaltender’s outstretched skate at 13:18.
The Outlaws’ momentum continued into the third period as Fitzgibbons struck 52 seconds in, followed by two power play goals from Nick Ayers, overshadowing Trevor Erickson’s power play strike for the home team.
El Paso found a late-game magic missing in a 6-5 loss to Tulsa two weeks ago, sparked by a couple of players who have been Rhinos for three years in Gorup and Krueger.
El Paso improves to 13-1-0 and 26 points, while Colorado earns its 11th point in dropping to 5-18-1.
The two teams finish their three-game series tomorrow afternoon at the Sierra Providence Events Center at 5:30 p.m. MST. For ticket information, call the Rhinos at 915.479.PUCK (7825).
