For their last game of the Showcase, the Rhinos faced off against the Long Beach Bombers, the Western Division leaders. Despite their seat at the top of their division, they went into the matchup having lost their first two games in Las Vegas.
El Paso, as in the two previous games, continued to apply offensive pressure, out-shooting the Bombers early on the period. However, Long Beach scored first when Von Mullin beat Rhino goaltender Kayden Pickles near the five-minute mark of the first period. Three minutes later, Rhino forward Max Kamper evened the score, netting pożyczki online bez krd a goal with only one second left on the power play. El Paso headed into the final period with a one goal lead after Ty Erramouspe scored in the last 24 seconds of the first half of the game.
During the intermission, the Bombers regrouped and entered the second period ready for a comeback. Only five minutes in, Long Beach’s Parker Moskal cut the Rhinos’ lead, making it a 2-2 game. Adam Stalzer, however, earned the game winning goal only two minutes and ten seconds later. The Rhinos were able to hang on to a one goal lead for the final 18 minutes of the game.
Pickles, stopping 20 of 22 shots, picked up his third win of the season. The Rhinos finished the game with a perfect penalty kill percentage and went one for two on the power play.
After two wins in three games at the WSHL Showcase, the Rhinos finish the first half of the season with a record of 29-1. They will take just over a week and half off for Holiday vacation before they return to the Sun City and prepare for a series against the Wichita Thunder.
For recaps from the Rhinos' first two games of the Showcase, click here and here.