Weekend of firsts for the Scorpions

RIO RANCHO, NM – A long, tiring season is coming to a close in the CHL and the Scorpions are skating on a worn edge with weeks left.
 
This past weekend was one of firsts for the club as they welcomed the Rapid City Rush to New Mexico for their first visit.   The Rush, in their first season in the CHL, have done well on and off the ice and head coach Joe Ferras is no stranger to New Mexico.   Ferras played and coached for the Scorpions franchise.
 
But this weekend was a series of other firsts for the Scorpions, at least this season.
 
Importantly, the Scorpions put together back-to-back wins for the first time at home all season.   Their home wins rose from 5 to 7 and the club closed the large gap between themselves and the final playoff berth to just 9 points.  
 
The Scorpions also played in their fist shootout of the season on Saturday evening as they completed the weekend sweep of the Rush.   The 4-3 victory matched with the 5-2 win on Friday represented the best 6 consecutive periods of hockey played at home this season.  
 

Something else happened this past weekend that has not happened all season.   Good team defense.   Former Scorpion Ross McCain returned to the lineup after playing in Germany this season and has seemingly provided a basis for good team defense after only two games at home.  
 
The inexplicable goalie merry-go-round that saw Jason Wolfe depart for Bloomington in the International Hockey League and Andrew Martin to the Laredo Bucks in the CHL (Southern Conference no less) also saw Ryan Gibb move over from the Bucks and free agent Kyle McNulty sign on.
 
Gibb was on leave this weekend leaving McNulty to man the crease.   And he did so in spectacular fashion and showed calm and steadiness in net the Scorpions have not seen all year.
 
McNulty was credited with both victories over the weekend and back-stopped the Scorpions well and supported his defense by redirecting shots to the corners and directing traffic in front and behind his crease.  
 
That solid goaltending perhaps provided the defense with a greater sense of confidence because the blue liners played their best 6 periods of hockey at home this season.   Shot blocking was a welcome new sign as was the ability to clear the defensive zone smartly and quickly.  
 
Before fans get too excited it should be noted this was the Rapid City Rush and not the Odessa Jackalopes or Colorado Eagles.   The true test for this newfound defense and netminding will come in the next 7 days as the Scorpions host playoff bound teams in the final four games of this six game home-stand.
 
But for now, the Scorpions entertained by playing solid hockey.  
 
Contact the author at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com.