Perry Explodes for Four Points as Sundogs Snap Five-Game Losing Streak

Published on December 6, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs and Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees met in the first of five meetings between the two clubs on Saturday night at Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas with the Arizona looking to put an end to a season-long five-game losing streak. After having an eight-game point streak snapped in last night's 5-3 loss to Laredo, Adam Perry responded with a four-point performance, recording his ninth goal and ninth, 10th and 11th assists of the season en route to a 7-4 Sundogs win, their first since a 6-4 win against the New Mexico Scorpions on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

For the fifth-straight game, Arizona would find itself trailing early on as Ryan Shmyr capitalized on an early Killer Bees power play opportunity following a Tyler Liebel unsportsmanlike conduct penalty 23 seconds into the contest. Daryl Moore settled a puck below the Sundogs goal line before sending a centering pass to a wide-open Shmyr at the top of the goal crease for his first tally of the year at the period's 2:12 mark. Travis Banga gave his club a two-goal lead three-and-a-half minutes later with a bad-angle shot from behind the Sundogs net, bouncing a shot off the back of goaltender Marco Emond. Arizona responded to pull even at 2-2 with special teams' goals separated by just two minutes. On his club's first power play chance of the night, veteran defenseman Chris Bartolone netted his third goal of the year and second in three games, firing an Adam Perry set-up feed past Killer Bees netminder Wylie Rogers with 13:22 to play in the opening frame. Defenseman Jon Landry was also credited with an assist on the Bartolone marker for his team-leading 14th power play point of the season. With his club on a 4-on-3 penalty kill, Perry recorded his second point of the period 2:17 later, converting on an uncontested breakaway chance. Despite falling behind 2-0 early, the Sundogs played one of their best 20 minutes of play of the season, tallying a season-high 21 first period shots on net while allowing only nine Rio Grande Valley shots.

Rio Grande Valley regained a one-goal lead early in the second period as Robin Bouchard found the back of the net on a cross-ice pass from Banga for his sixth goal of the season but Arizona would respond with four unanswered through 40 minutes of play to take a 6-3 lead into the third period. Bouchard lifted the shot over Emond who slid across the goal crease, stacking the pads in an attempt to turn aside the early scoring chance 1:06 in. Jesse Bennefield collected his second point of the game along with Banga. The Sundogs though responded with the game's next four goals to take a commanding 6-3 lead. Karl Sellan registered his 12th goal of the year and his club's second man advantage tally of the night, redirecting a Kyle Hood shot past Rogers 5:40 into the middle frame. Martin Gascon was also credited with an assist on the play.

Skating in 2-on-1, Perry and Joel Irving combined to give their club a one-goal lead. Perry notched his second helper and third point of the evening, sending a centering pass to Irving who connected on a one-time effort for his team-leading 15th of the year. Liebel also figured into the scoring with the initial pass in the neutral zone. Just past the period's midway point, Andre Selander pushed the score to 5-3 in favor of Arizona with his second of the year from forward A.J. MacLean. With 4:16 to play in the second, the line of Liebel, Perry and Irving combined for the second time in an 11-minute span to give their club a three-goal cushion. Trailing between the circles, Liebel knocked a Perry rebound past Rogers for his fifth of the year. Perry collected his third assist and fourth point on the play while Irving grabbed his first assist and second point of the night.

Gascon became the fourth Sundogs player to record a multiple-point outing with 10:59 to play in the final period, slamming home a rebound following a strong individual effort by linemate Mark Kolanos for a 7-3 lead. With a defenseman draped on his back, Kolanos directed a one-handed effort on net with Gascon crashing for his seventh of the year. Killer Bees forward Brian Bicek pulled his club back to within three with 4:11 to play in regulation, crashing the net and banging home the loose puck. Bennefield and Bouchard gathered their third and second points of the night on the Bicek's fifth of the year, but that's as close as they would come as Arizona would hold on for the 7-4 win.

Appearing in net for the 13th time, Emond improved to 6-6-1 on the year turning aside 39 of 43 shots. Rogers got the start for Rio Grande Valley and stopped 34 of 41 shots in the loss. The Sundogs finished 2-for-7 with the man advantage while holding the Killer Bees to 1-for-4 on the power play. With the win, the Sundogs snap a season-long five-game losing streak and improve to 9-13-1 to remain in second place in the Southwest Division.

The Sundogs continue their two-week road trip with three-straight in Colorado starting on Wednesday, Dec. 10 against the Rocky Mountain Rage. 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.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Central Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central