Nelson's Hat Trick Helps Colorado Earn Weekend Sweep; Eagles Top Sundogs, 5-2
January 30, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - Riley Nelson completed his hat trick effort with an empty net marker with 1.5 seconds remaining in the game and the Colorado Eagles earned a weekend sweep of the Arizona Sundogs Sunday afternoon at Tim's Toyota Center, topping the host team by a 5-2 mark in the final contest of a three-game set.
Despite suffering the loss, Levente Szuper turned in a strong performance for Arizona steering aside 44 of 48 shots in his team's fourth straight loss.
Nelson helped Colorado to a 1-0 lead midway through the first period, circling from behind the net and lifting a shot over Szuper from the slot 8:42 into the contest.
Luke Erickson tied the game at one with his league-leading 27th goal of the year with less than a minute to play in the opening frame, beating Kyle Jones with a snap shot that deflected off a stick in front and over the Colorado netminder who was protecting the bottom half of the net. Rookie Patrick Schafer assisted on the play, forcing a turnover along the near boards in the offensive zone with 41.5 seconds remaining in the period.
Jason Williams looked to have given the Sundogs a 2-1 lead early in the second period with a shot that found the back bar inside the cage but referee Boone Bruggman waived off the goal and play continued.
Nelson's second of the game four minutes into the middle frame reclaimed a one-goal lead for the Eagles. Kevin Ulanski intercepted a clearing attempt at the sideboards and found Nelson alone in front for one of four assists on the night.
Steve Haddon extended his club's lead to 3-1 at 8:07, snapping a low shot past the stick of Szuper from below the left circle.
Arizona converted on a lengthy two-man advantage in the second half of the middle period to cut its deficit back to one as Tyler Butler netted his eighth of the year, blasting a slap shot past Jones from the high slot with 4:42 to play in the period. Kyle Hood recorded his 23rd power-play assist of the season on the play as the forward attempted to thread a cross-ice pass to Jamie VanderVeeken that was tipped to Butler between the circles.
Daymen Rycroft put the game out of reach with his 24th goal of the year 2:37 into the third period.
Arizona held Colorado's second-ranked power play scoreless on five attempts but converted only once on nine man advantage opportunities of their own.
The Sundogs (17-21-5) open a three-game set against the Laredo Bucks (14-21-6) beginning Tuesday at 7:05pm at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. 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.
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