Arizona Takes 3-2 Lead as Series Shifts Back to Arizona
Published on April 5, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
RIO RANCHO, New Mexico - The Arizona Sundogs and New Mexico Scorpions battled in a pivotal Game 5 of the Southern Conference semifinal best-of-7 series Saturday night at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. With the series tied at 2-2, each team entered the game looking to take a 3-2 series lead before shifting back to Arizona for Game 6 on Monday and if necessary, Game 7 on Tuesday. Alex Leavitt tallied two goals and three assists to extend his point streak to 22 games dating back to the regular season while Cory Urquhart registered one goal to extend his goal scoring streak to 15 games dating back to the regular season. The Sundogs used five power play goals to carry them to an 8-5 win and a 3-2 series lead.
In the opening 20 minutes of play Saturday night, Arizona showcased why its offense was rated as the league's best during the regular, tallying four goals on 17 shots. The Sundogs looked to establish a presence in the first period and did just that as amateur Kyle Hood gathered his second goal of the playoffs, pushing a loose puck past Andrew Martin just 22 seconds into the game. First-year defenseman David Schlemko was credited with an assist on the early go ahead marker. At 8:11 of the opening frame and while on its first man advantage of the night, Arizona pushed the score to 2-0 as veteran defenseman Chris Bartolone sent a slap shot from the point towards the net. The puck deflected off rookie forward Jason Visser and into the back of the net for his first goal and fourth point of the series. CHL scoring champion Alex Leavitt was also credited with an assist on the play, extending his point streak to 22 games dating back to the regular season. New Mexico cut Arizona's lead to 2-1 with its first power play goal of the game at the 13:57 mark as Konrad Reeder grabbed his fifth goal of the postseason from Aaron MacInnis and Mitch Stephens. Reeder collected the puck and lifted a backhand shot over Rob McVicar to pull his club to within one. The Sundogs answered back to regain a two-goal lead with less than four minutes to play in the period, converting on its second man advantage opportunity of the night. Dan Laperriere fired a one-time shot from the top of the near circle past Martin for his second tally of the playoffs. Leavitt and Bartolone both notched their second helpers of the game on the Laperriere goal. With 37 seconds remaining in the first, Leavitt registered his first goal and third point of the game, firing a wrist shot from the high slot and across the goal line to give his club a three-goal lead. Mark Kolanos and Visser both helped on the play to close out first period scoring. The Sundogs outshot New Mexico in the opening period by a 17-10 mark.
New Mexico made a switch at the goaltender position to start the second period, replacing starting netminder Andrew Martin with backup Mike Minard. While skating four-on-four after an elbowing call to Konrad Reeder and delay of game penalty to Karl Sellan 20:00 of the first period, Stephens intercepted a pass in his own zone and skated end-to-end, beating McVicar with a low forehand shot, seeming to pull his club back to within two 1:25 into the period. After a long conference between referee Paul DePuydt and linesmen Brock Geris and Kyle Simms, DePuydt waived off the Stephens goal due to a delayed slashing major penalty on Craig Macdonald. After an explanation, Macdonald was escorted off the ice with a game misconduct. While on a five-minute power play, the Sundogs opened a four-goal lead as Leavitt grabbed his second of the game from Visser and Cory Urquhart at the 4:22 mark. With 61 seconds remaining on the five-minute power play, MacInnis was handed a five-minute boarding call to put the Sundogs on a 5-on-3 power play. Urquhart gathered his first goal of the game and eighth of the series at 5:45 of the middle frame to extend his goal scoring streak to 15 games dating back to the regular season for a 6-1 lead. Bartolone and Leavitt grabbed their third and fifth points of the game respectively on the Urquhart marker. After the ensuing faceoff, Steve Rymsha received a pass from Laperriere and skated in behind the New Mexico defense and lifted a forehand shot over Minard for the Sundogs fifth power play goal of the game just 14 seconds later. With 8:27 to play in the second, the Scorpions tallied their second of the game while on the man advantage. Chris Robertson fired a low slap shot from inside the blue line past McVicar to cut the Sundogs' lead back to five. After two periods of play, the Sundogs held a 31-26 advantage in shots.
With the Sundogs sitting back and playing a more defensive, patient style of hockey to begin the third, New Mexico pulled to within four as Ray Ortiz solved McVicar 1:33 into the period. Defenseman Bill McCreary assisted on the early tally for his third assist of the postseason. With 14:15 to play, the Scorpions cut Arizona's lead to 7-4 as Kevin Harvey deflected a Dylan Row pass into the net for his second goal of the series. Ross McCain also tallied a helper on the play for his third assist of the playoffs. New Mexico continued its comeback effort with its third power play goal on nine chances with 9:01 to play in the game to pull to within two. McCain pushed home a loose puck with Row and McCreary notching assists. Rob Lehtinen answered back 28 seconds later with an unassisted shorthanded marker, his first point of the series, to regain a three-goal lead. Lehtinen used Dusty Collins as a diversion and beat Minard with a tough-angle shot from the side of the net.
Rob McVicar appeared in net for Arizona and stopped 36 of 41 shots for his ninth consecutive win dating back to the regular season while Andrew Martin was chased from the net after allowing four goals on 17 shots. Mike Minard blocked 20 of 24 shots in the relief effort. The Sundogs finished 5-for-17 with the man advantage while the Scorpions converted on 3-of-10 power play chances.
Arizona takes a 3-2 lead with the series shifting back to Arizona for Game 6 on Monday, April 7 at 7:05pm. Tickets are available by phone at 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849), online at www.gettix.net and in person at the Tim's Toyota Center Box Office.
Central Hockey League Stories from April 5, 2008
- New Mexico Falls In Game Five - New Mexico Scorpions
- Arizona Takes 3-2 Lead as Series Shifts Back to Arizona - Arizona Sundogs
- Sweet sweep- Brahmas beat 'Bugs 5-3 - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Mudbugs Bow Out of Playoffs in Texas - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Scorpions Even Up Series With Win - New Mexico Scorpions
- Third's A Charm, Brahmas Beat 'bugs 3-2 In Game Three - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Brahmas Again Hold off Comeback, Lead 3-0 - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
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