Odessa Deals Arizona First Regulation Loss in Nine Road Games, 5-3

December 7, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Odessa Jackalopes used a three-goal second period to snap the Arizona Sundogs' two-game winning streak and deal the visiting club their first regulation loss in nine road games, 5-3, Tuesday night at the Ector County Coliseum.

Arizona was 5-0-3 in its last eight games away from Tim's Toyota Center coming into Tuesday's meeting.

Trailing 1-0 early, Odessa responded with four straight goals including three in the second period to take control of the contest.

Arizona jumped out to an early lead on Luke Erickson's team-leading ninth goal of the year just 4:38 into the contest. Converting on his club's first power play opportunity of the game, Erickson one-timed a Cam Keith drop pass between the legs of Michel Robinson as the two skated 3-on-1 with Joey Sides.

Alex Dunn tied the game at one with 7:57 to play in the opening frame, firing a slap shot from just inside the blue line off the right shoulder of Levente Szuper and into the back of the net. Szuper made the initial save but the puck popped up into the air and fell behind the Sundogs' netminder.

Kenny Corupe gave Odessa a 2-1 lead 5:58 into the second period, backhanding a Sebastien Thinel rebound past Szuper.

Stationed in front, Jeff Pierce picked up his first of two second-period goals 19 seconds later, stretching the Jackalopes' lead to two.

Pierce extended Odessa's cushion to 4-1 at the 14:57 mark, capitalizing on a 5-on-3 power play after Joel Irving and Jason Williams were sent to the penalty box just 48 second apart.

Rookie defenseman Jim Driscoll cut Arizona's deficit back to two late in the period with his second goal of the season. With possession behind the net, Driscoll moved to his backhand and slipped the puck past Robinson on a second-chance effort with 2:34 remaining in the middle frame. Mark Kolanos and Adam Smyth were credited with assists on the play.

Defenseman Tyler Butler extended his current scoring streak to two games with his team-leading 15th power-play point of the season, one-timing a Kyle Hood cross-ice pass high over the glove of Robinson from the near circle to pull Arizona back to within one with just over four minutes to play in regulation.

The Sundogs finished 2-for-10 on the power play but were unable to convert on several lengthy two-man advantages. Odessa converted once on six man advantage opportunities and Kenny Bernard added a shorthanded marker late in the contest to secure the win.

Szuper, named Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week earlier in the day, turned aside 30 of 35 shots in the loss, falling to 4-3-2 on the year.

In the midst of a six-game road trip, Arizona (8-10-3) travels to Laredo, Texas to battle the Bucks (9-9-3) Friday at 6:30pm (Arizona time). Listen to the game live online at www.cattlecountryradio.com and on KDDL 'Cattle Country' 94.3FM, the Official Radio Home of Arizona Sundogs Hockey.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 7, 2010


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