Groenestege, Sundogs Blank Gorillas, 3-0
March 5, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The number three was a theme Friday night at Tim's Toyota Center as Doug Groenestege backstopped the Arizona Sundogs to their season-best third straight home victory and third win in a row overall with his league co-leading third shutout of the season, turning aside 23 shots in a 3-0 win over the Amarillo Gorillas.
Skating in his 11th consecutive game, Groenestege made his biggest save of the night with 8:53 to play in first period, sprawling post-to-post and snagging a near-side one-timer with his glove midway through one of three Amarillo power plays.
The Sundogs have now held the opposition to just two goals in 32 power-play opportunities dating back to February 17.
With the win and a Corpus Christi IceRays loss Friday, Arizona now sits just nine points back of the Southern Conference's final playoff spot with seven games remaining in the regular season.
Kevin Jarman finally broke through on the Sundogs' 26th shot of the game with 5:11 to play in the middle frame, redirecting a Torren Delforte shot-pass from the near circle while collapsing on the crease.
Brown made the initial save but Jarman slapped home his own rebound at the far post for his third goal in as many games.
Amarillo goaltender Mike Brown kept the game scoreless through 34 minutes of play, stretching a glove save on a Jason Visser one-timer from the slot at 6:47 of the second.
Celebrating his 33rd birthday, Linus Fagemo collected his 21st goal of the year just over three minutes into the third, faking a forehand effort in the slot before burying a backhand past Brown.
Rookie forward Joey Sides picked up his second assist of the game and fifth point in the last three games setting up Fagemo with a rink-wide pass from the right wing.
Arizona had a third goal waived off with 8:01 to play in regulation as referee Tom Steinel ruled Brown and the puck were pushed across the goal line before forward-turned-defenseman Rob Lehtinen added an empty-net goal with 18 seconds to play in the contest.
The Sundogs were held without a power-play goal for the second straight game and sixth time in the last seven games, finishing 0-for-1 with the man-advantage Friday night.
Arizona (22-29-6) outshot Amarillo, 37-23, in the contest. The two teams conclude a three-game set tomorrow night at 7:05pm at Tim's Toyota Center. Tickets start at just $14 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.
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