Butler Scores Late in Overtime, 'Dogs Close Out 2010 with Second Straight Home Win

December 31, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - Tyler Butler found the back of the net with 3.6 seconds remaining in overtime and the Arizona Sundogs won back-to-back games at home for the first time this season Friday night.

Trailing 3-1 to the Laredo Bucks after 40 minutes of play, the Sundogs tallied twice in the third period to force overtime before Butler staked Arizona to its second straight victory at Tim's Toyota Center, 4-3 in overtime.

Butler collected two assists along with his game-winner while Luke Erickson extended his points streak to five games with a pair of tallies in the win. Joey Sides netted his sixth goal in as many games and added an assist.

Arizona controlled the pace of play in the game's first minute and a half but an odd-man rush the other way resulted in an early 1-0 lead for Laredo 1:48 into the contest. Rushing up the ice 2-on-1, Darryl Smith crossed the blue line before sending a slap shot low near post past Levente Szuper for his sixth goal of the season.

Erickson picked up his first of two goals with the Sundogs on a five-minute power play, walking in from the near boards and snapping a wrist shot off the shoulder of Pier-Olivier Pelletier and across the goal line at the 6:05 mark. Butler and Kyle Hood were credited with assists on the equalizer.

Adam Smyth nearly tied the game at one a minute earlier, redirecting a Butler shot from the point over Pelletier and off the crossbar.

After being held scoreless on six man advantage opportunities on Wednesday, the visiting Bucks collected a pair of second-period power-play markers, stretching their lead to 3-1 after 40 minutes of play.

Daniel Koger tallied his second goal in as many games midway through the middle frame, reclaiming a one-goal lead for Laredo. Sides tipped an Erickson shorthanded chance wide right sending play the opposite direction before Ryan Lehr's and Neil Trimm's tic-tac-toe passing found Koger in the slot for the one-time effort at the 9:21 mark.

Jeff Bes was credited with his 10th goal of the season while on a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage late in the frame, knocking a Trimm centering feed from below the near circle past Szuper with 2:12 remaining in the period.

Sides' league-leading sixth shorthanded point and third shorthanded goal of season closed Arizona to within one with 8:07 to play. Named to the 2011 CHL All-Star Team earlier in the week, Sides split the Laredo defense and beat Pelletier with a snap shot from the low slot, setting up Erickson's game-tying goal with 2:59 to play in regulation.

With the win, Arizona improves to 2-3-0 all-time on New Year's Eve.

The Sundogs finished 1-for-2 with the man advantage while Laredo converted twice on eight power play chances. Shots were 43-30 in favor of Arizona.

The two teams face off again tomorrow at 7:05pm (Arizona time) at Tim's Toyota Center. Tickets start at just $12 and 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.

The team will again wear tuxedo-themed jerseys and will auction them off following the game. Proceeds benefit non-profit agencies throughout Northern Arizona.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central