More Scorpions

• Scorpions' loss caps lousy weekend
• Scorpions keep rolling on homestand
• Hockey: Scorps shine at All-Star Game

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

The Laredo Bucks better take notice: Scott Reid is back.

The New Mexico Scorpions' netminder returned to the form that saw him named the league's Most Outstanding Goaltender in 2003-04, winning four of the last five contests and helping the Scorps make history with a come-from-behind, 4-3 series victory over the Arizona Sundogs.

"We needed a goalie to step up, and Scott's done it," head coach Ray Edwards said. "People haven't really seen what he is capable of (this season), but he can win games single-handedly."

And that was exactly what Reid did Tuesday night, making 44 saves, many highlight-reel worthy, as the Scorpions defeated the Sundogs 3-2 in the seventh and deciding game of their conference semifinal series. For the Scorpions, it marked not only the first Game 7 victory in franchise history, but also the first time in league history that a team came back to win a best-of-seven series after dropping the first two games on home ice.

"From losing the first two games, to come back and win four to three is just unbelievable," Edwards said. "The guys never quit, never stopped, and they deserve all the credit in the world."

Now the Scorpions can look ahead to the conference finals, which start Saturday night at the Laredo Entertainment Center. There, the Scorps will have the opportunity to buck another trend - Laredo has won four consecutive conference championships.

"The three years I've been in the league, they've won (the Ray Miron Cup) twice and they've been to the finals once," Edwards said of the Bucks. "They're obviously a great hockey club."

In spite of the haughty pedigree, the Scorpions are confident in their chances against the Bucks.

"Teams have trouble keeping up with us when we play well," center Chris Robertson said. "Five-on-five I think we can take any team in the league so all we've got to do is keep guys on the ice and we're good."

Reid expects more of the same from the top team in the Southern Conference.

"They're well-coached, they've got great players and I expect another tough series," he said of the Bucks.

Reid would know. Playing under Edwards in San Angelo, he pushed Laredo to the brink of defeat in the opening round of the 2005 playoffs, shutting out the defending cup champions a record three times in one series before falling in overtime in Game 7.

Robertson played in that series, along with Scorpions defenseman Matt Frick. He knows how sweet revenge would be.

"This is a new year, a new team," Robertson said. "And this is playoff hockey. "Any given team can win on any given night."

The Scorpions will enjoy a few day's rest before heading South to Laredo for Game 1 on Saturday night.