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Laredo Avoids Sweep, Doubles-Up Arizona, 6-3

January 2, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The visiting Laredo Bucks avoided a three-game sweep at the hand of the Arizona Sundogs, doubling-up the home club by a 6-3 mark in the final contest of a three-game set Saturday night at Tim's Toyota Center.

With points in four straight games against Laredo coming into the contest, Saturday's setback was Arizona's first regulation loss against the Bucks this season.

Laredo outscored the Sundogs in each period Saturday night, 1-0 in the first, 3-2 in the second and 2-1 in the third, to snap a streak of four straight one-goal games between the two clubs.

Bobby Jarosz turned aside 22 of 27 shots in his first start in net since October 30.

As they had done in the previous two contests, the Bucks struck first Saturday to open a 1-0 first-period lead. Jeff Bes converted on Laredo's first power play opportunity of the night midway through the opening frame, skating through the slot and redirecting a Serge Dube centering attempt past Jarosz.

The two teams traded goals through the second period's first eight minutes.

Brian Matte stretched the Bucks' lead to two less than three minutes into the middle frame with his first goal of the season. Trailing a 3-on-2 rush, Matte corralled a Jeff Hazlewood drop pass at the top of the left circle and snuck a wrist shot near side past Jarosz.

Adam Smyth cut Arizona's deficit in half with his fourth of the season less than a minute later, snapping a wrist shot over the left shoulder of Torrie Jung from the high slot. Rookie defenseman Jim Driscoll forced a turnover along the far boards allowing Smyth to skate in alone between the circles.

Justin Styffe reclaimed a two-goal cushion for Laredo a minute and a half later. With possession between the circles, Addison DeBoer fanned on a shot before Styffe collapsed on the puck, beating Jarosz between the legs at the 4:51 mark.

Cam Keith extended his points streak to five games at the 6:47 mark with Arizona's lone power-play goal of the night, tapping a second-chance effort past Jung from the top of the goal crease to cut the Bucks' lead to 3-2. The Laredo netminder made the initial save on a Tyler Butler shot from the point but was unable to keep the rebound off Keith's stick.

Jeff Hazlewood extended his club's lead to 4-2 1:18 later, getting enough on a shot as it bounced off the blocker of Jarosz and across the goal line.

Held without a goal though the season's first 24 games, veteran Joel Irving picked up his first marker of the year 12:15 into the final frame, pulling Arizona back to within one, but Bes and Darryl Smith added goals in the game's final minutes to secure their club's second win in nine games.

The Sundogs finished 1-for-3 with the man advantage while Laredo converted twice on four power play opportunities.

Prior to the game Head Coach and General Manager Marco Pietroniro activated rookie forward Jason Williams and placed forward Karl Sellan on 10-day I.R.

Arizona (13-14-4) continues a six-game homestand with three straight against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (13-17-3) beginning Wednesday, Jan. 5 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 2, 2011


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