Eagles Hand Sundogs Second Straight Loss, 8-2

November 29, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs were handed their second straight loss at the hands of the Colorado Eagles Saturday night in front of 3,104 fans at Tim's Toyota Center.

Kevin Gardner extended his scoring streak to three games with a goal and assist.

A bright spot for Arizona in the loss was its special teams play, holding Colorado's fifth-ranked power play scoreless for the second straight game. The Sundogs' power play which has struggled early this season converted for both goals on nine tries Saturday night.

Colorado jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first period Saturday on the strength of three assists by veteran defenseman Jim Jackson.

Known more for his physical play, Alex Penner gave the Eagles an early 1-0 lead six minutes into the contest with a wrist shot through traffic from between the circles. Jackson collected his first of three assists in the period on the play along with Jason Lundmark.

The Sundogs converted on their second power play opportunity of the period just over a minute later evening the score at one on Gardner's seventh goal of the year.

Striding down the far boards, Gardner gathered a Jon Landry dump-in before cutting towards the net and beating Andrew Penner with a wrist shot from below the circle at the 7:24 mark.

Jackson notched his second helper of the frame at 10:48 to reclaim a one-goal cushion for Colorado before helping to stretch its lead to 3-1 late in the frame on an Ed McGrane redirect.

Sundogs netminder J.F. Perras made the initial save through a scramble in front on Jackson's second helper and fell back in an effort to cover the puck and earn a whistle but the puck popped loose to Brett Lutes for his third of the season.

McGrane redirected an innocent shot on net for his club's third goal of the opening period with 2:03 to play.

Colorado added three goals in the second period for a commanding 6-1 advantage through 40 minutes of hockey.

Steve Haddon made it 4-1 in favor of the Eagles 5:42 into the middle frame on a tough angle shot along the ice.

A bad break for Arizona gave Colorado its fifth of the contest midway through the period as Riley Nelson picked up the Eagles' third shorthanded marker of the year.

Skating in 2-on-1 and trying to send a cross ice pass, Nelson found the puck on his stick as it bounced off the skate of a Sundogs defenseman. Perras, playing the attempted pass, was moving across the goal crease and unable to contest the easy conversion.

Jackson netted his fourth assist of the contest late in the period as Aaron Schneekloth pushed the score to 6-1 with 1:32 remaining in the second.

The Sundogs had a chance to make it 4-2 on a shorthanded opportunity midway through the frame as Landry found Lehtinen behind the Eagles' defense but Penner denied the effort with a pad save.

After allowing six goals on 24 shots, Perras was replaced in net by backup goaltender Kyle McNulty to start the third period.

The Sundogs and Eagles traded goals early in the third while skating 4-on-4. Veteran defenseman Chris Bartolone netted the Sundogs' second power play marker of the contest 2:15 into the third period from Gardner but Nelson responded for his second of the game 43 seconds later.

Ryan McLeod closed out scoring in the contest midway through the final period, capping off the 8-2 win.

Perras suffered the loss after being chased from the game with 18 saves on 24 shots while Penner improved to 7-1-1 on the year with 25 saves on 27 shots. McNulty turned aside eight of 10 shots in the relief effort.

Colorado outshot Arizona 34-27 in the contest and held a 24-13 advantage through the first two periods.

The Sundogs now head on the road for a season-long six-game road trip beginning Tuesday, Dec. 1 against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. Game time is set for 6:05pm (Arizona time). Listen live on KDDL 'Cattle Country' 94.3FM, the Official Radio Home of Arizona Sundogs Hockey, and online at www.cattlecountryradio.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from November 29, 2009


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