Rage's Spirited Comeback Falls Just Short
February 1, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release
Prescott Valley, Ariz. - Down 5-2 with seven minutes remaining in the third period, the Rocky Mountain Rage rallied behind two power play tallies less than a minute apart to pull within a single goal with 4:02 left in regulation. In the end, though, the Rage were unable to find the equalizer, and the Arizona Sundogs held on to win the rubber match of a three-game set this week at Tim's Toyota Center, 5-4.
Following a scoreless first period, the clubs combined for five goals in the second. Arizona's Peter Cartwright struck for an unassisted goal off a Rocky Mountain giveaway at 2:35, but the Rage's Kai Magnussen answered with a power play goal at 4:59. Less than 30 seconds later, Tyler Butler inadvertently fired the puck into his own net trying wrap it around up the far wing and gave the Sundogs a 2-1 edge. Karl Sellan was given credit for the goal. But for the second time in a matter of minutes, Rocky Mountain responded on the man advantage. Simon Watson hit Jarred Mohr coming down the slot, and the d-man sent home his second of the year at 7:23. The âDogs finally generated a goal that wasn't the result of a Rage miscue when Kyle Hood centered off the end boards for Cartwright, who potted his second of the night at 10:00.
Arizona kept its 3-2 lead into the third, and added to its margin with a power play goal off a slapshot from the blue line by Jason Lawmaster. The club then picked up a second insurance goal to make it a 5-2 game when Hood capped an odd-man rush at 12:59.
Rocky Mountain's spirited comeback began at 15:03 when Magnussen tallied his second power play marker of the night. The Sundogs took a penalty as the Rage were celebrating, and then committed another infraction once play resumed to give Rocky Mountain a five-on-three. Scott Wray pounced on a rebound at 15:58, keeping the Rage alive. The effort marked the second consecutive game during which the team scored four power play goals as it did during last night's 6-3 win over the âDogs.
Still down by one in the final minute and netminder Scott Reid pulled in favor of an extra attacker, Wray set-up behind his own goal and spotted Colt King on the Arizona blue line. Wray banked a perfect pass off the wall to King who was sprung on a clean break-away, but the play was whistled off-side much to the dismay of Rocky Mountain. Their last gasp snuffed out by an official's whistle, the Rage never threatened again.
The loss drops Rocky Mountain to 23-19-4 with 50 points. The club lost ground to all four teams ahead of them in the Northern Conference standings, and exits the evening still in fifth place in the conference, four points behind the fourth-place Mississippi RiverKings.
The Rage now travel to face the Wichita Thunder next Friday, Feb. 6, as the team continues a season-long seven-game road trip. Tonight's tilt also concluded the first leg of a stretch of 12 of 13 on the road. Rocky Mountain does not return to Broomfield Event Center until a showdown with the RiverKings on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 3:05 p.m.
Individual tickets for the tilt against Mississippi are available for as low as $5 for kids 12 and under (with the purchase of at least one adult ticket) and cost just $10 for students with a valid ID. Tickets may be purchased at the BEC Box Office, www.Ticketmaster.com, (303) 830-TIXS, and all Ticketmaster retail outlets.
For more ticket information, visit www.rockymountainrage.com, or contact the Rage Ticket Sales Staff at (303) 439-RAGE or tickets@broomfieldsports.com.
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Central Hockey League Stories from February 1, 2009
- Rush Slowed By RiverKings 4-0 - Mississippi RiverKings
- Sundogs Hold on for 5-4 Victory, Maintain One-Point Cushion for Fifth Playoff Spot - Arizona Sundogs
- Rage's Spirited Comeback Falls Just Short - Rocky Mountain Rage
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