Rage Collapse, Lose in Overtime
March 20, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release
Prescott Valley, Ariz. - The Rocky Mountain Rage allowed a 6-3 lead to escape their grasp in the final 1:23 of regulation before Alex Leavitt scored the game-winning goal in overtime to deliver an improbable 7-6 win to the Arizona Sundogs at Tim's Toyota Center.
The Rage jumped all over the Sundogs through the first 40 minutes, out-shooting their hosts, 37-17. Colt King and Ladislav Kouba both lit the lamp in the first period before Daymen Rycroft scored 13 seconds into the second. Kouba then notched a short-handed goal and Rob Chappell tallied off a rebound to give Rocky Mountain a 5-0 lead 8:11 into the middle frame.
Still leading, 5-0, into the third, the Rage gave-up back-to-back power play goals 13 seconds apart to give Arizona life. Mark Kolanos then floated one through a screen past Scott Reid to all of a sudden close the gap to 5-3 at 12:27. Rocky Mountain responded, though, and seemingly put the âDogs away with a power play goal from Bill Newson at 14:24 to re-up the lead to 6-3.
But the Rage unraveled with the teams skating four-on-four over the final two minutes. The Sundogs' Cory Urquhart scored his second of the game at 18:37 before Chris Bartolone made it a one-goal game 45 seconds later. Arizona then pulled the goalie on the ensuing face-off, and Urquhart completed a hat trick to cap the three-goal rally in just 1:02 to force overtime.
The Sundogs out-shot Rocky Mountain, 7-0, in the extra session, which ended when Leavitt beat Reid glove side from the right circle at 3:38.
Despite the surreal loss, the Rage did pick up one point in the standings to tie the Mississippi RiverKings for the fifth and final playoff spot out of the Northern Conference with 76 points. Rocky Mountain has a record of 35-21-6 and is still alive in the race for the Northwest Division, four points behind the Colorado Eagles with two games remaining for both teams.
The Rage now head to Tulsa on Friday and Bossier-Shreveport on Saturday to conclude the regular season. For the most up-to-date information on the club's playoff situation, please visit http://www.rockymountainrage.com/outlook/.
FULL POINTSTREAK BOX SCORE: http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=534768
About Broomfield Event Center: Located on the south side of U.S. Highway 36 between 112th and 120th Avenues, the $45 million Broomfield Event Center is a state-of-the-art 180,000 square foot multi-purpose event center that includes 25 suites, 900 club seats, up to 8,000 total seats, restaurants, bars and a separate basketball practice facility. Broomfield Event Center hosts sporting events, concerts, trade shows, rodeos, and other special events. It is the home of the Central Hockey League's Rocky Mountain Rage Professional Hockey Club and the Colorado 14ers Professional Basketball Club of the NBA Development League (affiliate of the Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets, and Toronto Raptors).
About Arista: Broomfield Event Center is a major anchor for the 215 acre multi-use development known as Arista. In addition to the event center, Arista will include retail, office and residential space. For more information, visit www.AristaBroomfield.com.
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Central Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2008
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- Amarillo Knocks off Ice Bats 3-2 - Amarillo Gorillas
- Can't Miss Events to Close Regular Season - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Bats Lose, But Stay As Fifth Playoff Seed - Austin Ice Bats
- Sundogs Announce Remaining Second Round Home Playoff Dates - Arizona Sundogs
- Stacey Bauman Named CHL Man of the Year - CHL
- Can't Miss Events to Close the Regular Season - CHL
- Chris Stewart Wins CHL's Rick Kozuback Award - Colorado Eagles
- Chris Stewart Named Rick Kozuback Award Winner - CHL
- Hounds Eye Second Straight Playoff Birth - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Bucks To Hold Playoff Preview Show At Hal's - Laredo Bucks
- Aaron Grosul Named Hockey Director for NCYH - Colorado Eagles
- Rage Collapse, Lose in Overtime - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Sundogs Unbelievable Comeback Too Much for Rage, Win 7-6 in Overtime - Arizona Sundogs
- RiverKings Dodge Bullet to Retain Playoff Spot - Mississippi RiverKings
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