Amarillo, Tx– The Wranglers use a strong opening period to cruise to a 4-to-1 victory over El Paso Saturday night.
Over 2,000 fans piled into the Budweiser Bullpen for the Wranglers Teddy Bear Toss night and were treated to an exciting showdown.
Nikolas Campbell would get the honor of the teddy bear goal to open the scoring and allow the crowd to throw their toy donations on the ice at 11:42 of the first period. The Wranglers would not be affected by the delay in clearing the ice of toys as Chase Davis deflected a shot into the net to open up a 2-to-0 lead. Connor McNaughton would join the scoresheet after Blake Farrell dished the puck to an open McNaughton, who beat El Paso goalie Nolan Suggs top-shelf to give the Wranglers a 3-to-0 lead. The Rhinos would get on the scoreboard late in the period with a Tristan Kimmen goal.
Suggs and Luca Ganz would swap show-stopping saves in a quick-paced second period. Amarillo would reclaim their three-goal lead when Preston Brighton connected for his fourth goal of the season at the 16:43 mark. Amarillo would take the 4-to-1 lead into the third period.
Tensions would boil in the third period when Adam Nedelka dropped the gloves in his Wranglers debut. Just a few moments later, Blake Farrell would spar with E.J. Janda. Neither team would find the back of the net in the third as Ganz shut the door and secured his tenth win of the season. Ganz stopped 21 of 22 shots faced.
Amarillo has improved to 13-9-2-1 and has earned points in their last three games. The Wranglers have won all three games against El Paso this season.
The two teams will conclude the series Sunday afternoon at 3:05 before heading into the Christmas break. Fans are encouraged to bring brand-new underwear and sock donations to throw on the ice after the first Wranglers’ goal.