They did just that as Sean McCloskey scored barely a minute into the game, with some nice work by Joe Wallington to set up the goal.  But the Shock scored less than one minute later, as team leader Tom Robinson scored with an assist from Keith Walden.  However, the Outlaws reclaimed the lead, with a goal by Ryan Kromann a couple of minutes later, again after a strong effort by Wallington to set him up.

So, less than 5 minutes into play, the Outlaws held a 2-1 lead, and hoped the game would settle down a bit.  It did, as a penalty was called against the Shock.  There was no scoring on the ensuing power play, but the Outlaws were able to control the tempo, and they did not relinquish the lead again.  With 2:23 to go in the first period, Doug Bennett scored his first goal of the season, pushing the puck into the net as it squirted free from a melee in front of the goal.  Before the period ended, the Shock were able to draw within one, as Ed Bellamy scored his first of the season.
 
Ahead 3-2 to open the second period, the Outlaws were able to expand their lead as defenseman John DePeneloza picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, worked his way around several Shock defenders, and fired the puck past goalie Kenny Walden for his first goal of the season.  They built the lead even further as Jimmy Owens shot the puck into the Shock net from the side of the goal, giving the Outlaws a 5-2 lead before five minutes had elapsed in the second.  Robinson brought the Shock back to within two with a goal midway through the second, and the period ended with a 5-3 Outlaw lead.

In the third period, the Shock closed the gap to one, as Peter Putnam scored with an assist from Keith Walden, his third assist of the game.  But with 5:06 to play in regulation, Outlaw captain Max Schwartz finished the scoring after Mike Unterreiner flipped the puck to him in the neutral zone.  The Outlaws were able to protect their 6-4 lead for the rest of the game. 

Through two periods, the Outlaws were outshot 21-14, yet led 5-3.  Outlaw goalie Craig Schellenbach had saved 18 of those 21 shots.  Although his teammates weren’t helping him out much with their defensive play, they were able to provide enough offense to counter their defensive lapses.  In the third, the Outlaws were able to control the game, perhaps due to a short Shock bench, outshooting the Shock 10-4.  They even killed off two penalties in the period. 

Despite the 6-4 loss, the Shock remain atop the standings with 9 points.  The Outlaws now have 8 points, good enough for a second-pace tie with the Hornets, who have a game in hand on both teams.  The Outlaws have nearly two weeks before their next game, which is their last before the Christmas break.  They will play the Eagles on Sunday, December 21st, at 10:30 at Webster Groves.  In their previous meeting, the Outlaws lost 2-1 in a defensive struggle.