Morisette Tallies Four Goals, Assist as Gorillas Double-Up Arizona 6-3

February 7, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs closed out a season-long eight-game homestand against the Amarillo Gorillas Saturday night at Tim's Toyota Center, dropping the final contest of a three-game set, 6-3. Jake Morisette tallied four goals and an assist to carry his club to their 13th victory of the season, snapping the Sundogs three-game win streak. Matt Craig and Mark Kolanos each collected a goal and an assist in the loss.

Arizona trailed by scores of 1-0 and 2-1 in the first half of the opening frame Friday night but tallied two goals inside three minutes late in the period to take a 3-2 lead into the first intermission. Each of the first period's five goals came with the man-advantage. For the second-straight night, the visiting Gorillas struck first for the early lead as Jonathan Ornelas tallied the first of two Amarillo power play goals in the period for his seventh of the year at the 2:36 mark. Craig responded with the first of three Arizona man-advantage markers in the first, capitalizing on one of several rebound opportunities from the top of the goal crease. Jon Landry and Kolanos assisted on the early equalizer. Morisette netted his second goal of the three-game set and first of four on the night from John Snowden and Gordon Bell just past the period's midway point to regain a one-goal lead for Amarillo. Chris Bartolone and Kolanos collected power play goals separated by 57 seconds late in the period. Similar to his goal Friday night, the veteran defenseman sent a shot from the point along the ice and past the leg of A.J. Bucchino for his seventh of the season and third in as many games. Kolanos gave his club its first lead of the game with 1:25 to play in the first, lifting a wrist shot under the crossbar and over Bucchino, ending an 18-game goal scoring drought. Craig gathered his second point of the night, assisting on the late go-ahead goal along with Derek Legault. Arizona held an 18-12 advantage in shots through the first 20 minutes of play.

The second period belonged to the Gorillas as they reclaimed a one-goal lead with even-strength markers - the first two of the game - exactly one minute apart in the first eight minutes. Amarillo turned the tables in the middle frame, outshooting Arizona by an 18-12 mark. Morisette tied the game at 3-3 with his second of the night at the 7:06 mark from Ornelas and Bell, their second and third points of the night, respectively. Snowden followed with his second point of the contest from Joe Guenther and Alex Greig a minute later, beating a Sundogs defenseman wide before sliding a shot past a stretched-out Joel Gistedt.

Morisette completed the hat trick on passes from Bell and Ornelas 15:10 into the third period, all but securing the Gorillas' victory before adding an empty net tally with less than three seconds remaining in the contest.

Gistedt dropped his first game in his last four starts, turning aside 40 of 45 shots in the loss while Bucchino grabbed his third win of the season with 37 saves on 40 shots. Arizona faired slightly better with the man-advantage Saturday night, converting on three of six chances. The Gorillas finished 2-for-6 on the power play.

Despite the loss, Arizona remains three points ahead of the Corpus Christi IceRays for the Southern Conference's fifth and final playoff spot. Arizona (21-23-3) heads on the road for three-straight beginning Wednesday against the Colorado Eagles. Game time is set for 7:05pm (Arizona time) and can be heard live on 96.7 FM The Wolf, the Official Broadcast Home of the Arizona Sundogs.



Central Hockey League Stories from February 7, 2009


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