Arizona Takes Commanding 2-0 Series Lead
Published on May 5, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release
The Arizona Sundogs held serve with their two home games in the President's Cup Finals defeating the defending champion Colorado Eagles 6-4 in Game 1 and 5-1 in Game 2. The series now shifts to Colorado for games 3-5. The Eagles are 5-1 this season at home (during the playoffs) outscoring the opposition 24-12. In their five year history, the Eagles are 26-8 at the Budweiser Events Center.
Game Three will be seen LIVE on Altitude Sports and Entertainment and on the Arizona channel on the CHL Network (the Colorado channel will be tape delayed due to television contracts and restrictions).
Playoff Note: No team has fallen behind 2-0 and come back to win the President's Cup
Colorado vs. Arizona (best of seven, all times local)
Game 1 - Thursday, May 1 - Colorado 4 @ Arizona 6
Game 2 - Saturday, May 3 - Colorado 1 @ Arizona 5 (Sundogs lead series 2-0)
Game 3 - Wednesday, May 7 - Arizona @ Colorado, 7:05 PM
Game 4 - Friday, May 9 - Arizona @ Colorado, 7:05 PM
*Game 5 - Sunday, May 11 - Arizona @ Colorado, 7:05 PM
*Game 6 - Tuesday, May 13 - Colorado @ Arizona, 7:05 PM
*Game 7 - Wednesday, May 14 - Colorado @ Arizona, 6:05 PM (GAME TIME CHANGED FROM 7:05 to 6:05)
* - if necessary
Game Recaps:
Game 1 - Sundogs 6 v. Eagles 4
Cory Urquhart had a hat trick and Alex Leavitt scored a goal with two assists. Riley Nelson had a goal and three helpers in the loss for the Eagles.
Game 2 - Sundogs 5 v. Eagles 1
The Sundogs went 3 for 6 on the power play and Tyler Liebel scored a shorthanded goal. Tyler Redenbach had a goal and three assists and Dan Laperriere had three helpers for Arizona.
REDENBACH THE QUARTERBACK
Tyler Redenbach has been a great addition to the Sundogs playing in nine games (joined the team prior to the Southern Conference Finals versus Laredo) scoring two goals and setting up 15 others. The Red Deer, Alberta native has points in eight of the nine games he has played in the post-season and had multiple points in six contests. During the regular season, Redenbach played in 31 games scoring 18 goals with 48 assists. He had a goal and three assists in the Sundogs 5-1 victory in Game 2.
SPECIAL TEAMS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
The Sundogs struggled in their series with Laredo scoring just six PP goals in 57 chances (10.5%), this after a promising game six versus New Mexico in their conference semifinal series that saw them go 5 for 12. In the series with the Eagles, things have turned around with the Sundogs going 4 for 13 (30.8%) while scoring a shorthanded goal as well (Tyler Liebel in Game 2). Colorado is 2 for 11 in the finals with the mad advantage.
PANKEWICZ RETURNS TO THE LINEUP
The Colorado Eagles Captain Greg Pankewicz and defenseman Jay Birnie are both eligible to return to the lineup on Wednesday night in Game 3 after missing the last three games for the Eagles due to suspension. Pankewicz, despite missing the last three games, is tied with Ed McGrane and Riley Nelson for the most points on the Colorado roster (13 points). Last season, Pankewicz had one of the best post-seasons in league history tying the CHL record with 17 goals during a single post-season and setting the record with 32 points in a single playoff season.
Central Hockey League Stories from May 5, 2008
- Arizona Takes Commanding 2-0 Series Lead - CHL
- Murphy Serves Drinks For Cancer - New Mexico Scorpions
- Eagles Week In Review - Colorado Eagles
- Sundogs to Host Viewing Party for Game Three of President's Cup Finals - Arizona Sundogs
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