'Dogs Lose in Regulation for First Time in Six Home Games, Fall to Colorado, 4-1
January 28, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - In the midst of a season-long and nine-game homestand and skating in the first of three games in as many nights and five games in six days, the Arizona Sundogs picked up their first regulation loss in six home games, falling 4-1 to the visiting Colorado Eagles Friday night at Tim's Toyota Center.
Arizona carried a 4-0-1 mark into Friday's contest, earning nine of a possible 10 points in its previous five home games.
Levente Szuper kept the Sundogs in the contest throughout the game with timely saves and several breakaway stops, finishing with 38 saves on the night.
Adam Chorneyko snapped a scoreless tie four and a half minutes into the second period, lifting a shot over Szuper from below the right circle. With possession in the near corner, Dan Sullivan circled behind Szuper before finding Chorneyko alone at the side of the cage.
Rookie Patrick Schafer's fifth goal of the year tied the game at one at the second period's 15:31 mark. With Daymen Rycroft in the penalty box for holding, Schafer slapped at a loose puck at the top of the goal mouth, finally pushing a third-chance effort past Kyle Jones for the equalizer.
The Eagles responded with a power-play goal inside the period's final minute as Riley Nelson was credited with an unassisted marker with 27.4 seconds showing on the score clock. Miscommunication between Szuper and a Sundogs defenseman behind the goal resulted in Nelson throwing a shot into an empty net from the near boards for his 19th goal of the season and a 2-1 lead for Colorado after 40 minutes of play.
Nelson picked up his second of the game less than a minute into the third period to stretch his club's lead to two, tapping a rebound past Szuper after skating in alone on the netminder. Szuper made the initial save but the puck popped into the air and onto the forward's stick at the left post 32 seconds into the final frame.
Sullivan added to Colorado's lead with his second point of the contest midway through the third, streaking through the slot and snapping a Chorneyko setup feed low past the leg of Szuper.
Cam Keith saw his CHL season-best 14-game point streak come to an end while Luke Erickson had his 13-game scoring streak snapped.
Jones turned aside 34 shots to earn his 15th win of the season.
The Eagles made good on their lone power-play attempt while Arizona converted once on two man advantage opportunities. The two clubs combined for just six penalty minutes through the game's first two periods.
The Sundogs (17-19-5) remain in seventh place in the tightly contested Berry Conference, just seven points back of second place Bossier-Shreveport. Arizona and Colorado (23-15-2) continue their three-game set tomorrow at 7:05pm (Arizona time). 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.
Central Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2011
- 'Dogs Lose in Regulation for First Time in Six Home Games, Fall to Colorado, 4-1 - Arizona Sundogs
- Power Plays Explode in Odessa's 6-5 Loss to Rapid City - Odessa Jackalopes
- Allen throttles Bucks - Allen Americans
- Mavericks Lose to Tulsa, 4-3 - Kansas City Mavericks
- Eagles, Jones Overcome Szuper Effort in Arizona - Colorado Eagles
- Giosa, Mallards Roll Past Evansville 5-1 - Quad City Mallards
- Early Deficit Too Much to Overcome v. Komets - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- PrairieThunder Shutout 5-0 by RiverKings on Friday Night - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Third period heroics not enough - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Make It Two In A Row For Bees, Beat Texas 5-3 - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Bucks Tripped up By Americans - Laredo Bucks
- Sterling Silences PrairieThunder in RiverKings' Win - Mississippi RiverKings
- Gems drop 5-3 decision to Wichita - Dayton Gems
- Gale's Hat Trick Leads Thunder Comeback - Wichita Thunder
- Thunder to Hold Benefit Night for Wounded Soldier Jonathon Blank - Wichita Thunder
- Bucks' Watch Party Wednesday at Hal's - Laredo Bucks
- RiverKings-PrairieThunder Start Weekend Set Tonight - Mississippi RiverKings
- Shots from the Point - CHL
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.
