The Amarillo Wranglers notched their 22nd win of the season on the strength of a 5-to-1 outing against the El Paso Rhinos in a battle of the two newest teams in the South division.
The Wranglers would find the scoreboard very early in the game as kyle Demarco scored his first career NAHL goal at 2:13 of the opening period. After the opening goal, both teams played an evenly matched opening period, with both goalies having to make big saves throughout the first period.
The Rhinos would answer with a power-play tally in the opening moments of the second period when Jack Anderson collected his fourth goal of the season. Amarillo would bounce back from the tying goal with steady waves of pressure on the Rhinos goalie Jacob Zacharewicz and finally broke through when Tommy Chunchukov buried his fourth goal in just three games. The go-ahead goal would be Chunchukov’s sixth on the season and give the Wranglers a 2-to-1 lead.
Amarillo would find the back of the net just moments later with a TJ Koufis goal at 15:30 of the second to open up a 3-to-1 advantage for the visiting Wrangelrs going into the final period.
The Wranglers wasted no time finding the scoresheet in the third when Aidan Carney scored by redirecting a shot from Koufis just 1:12 into the period. After gaining a 4-to-1 lead, the Wranglers controlled the puck for much of the final period. They then showcased their speed and creativity through the neutral zone when Glebs Prohorenkovs cut through the Rhinos defense and set up Kristaps Skrastins, who converted for his 28th goal of the season at 13:57 of the third.
Wranglers goalie Carter Clafton would shut the door for his third win with Amarillo with a 30 save performance. The Wranglers would pepper Zacharewicz with 41 shots and tally five goals on the night. Amarillo will look to close out the sweep of El Paso on the road Saturday night at 8 p.m. CST.