Rayz Take 1-0 Series Lead
Published on March 30, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The Arizona Sundogs Hockey Club, in its first season of play, opened the 2007 Central Hockey League playoffs against the Corpus Christi Rayz Friday night at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. Arizona would take an early 1-0 lead but the Rayz would fight back, eventually grabbing the 4-3 victory. With the win Corpus Christi takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Arizona would begin its 2007 post-season on the right foot as defenseman Dan Laperriere would continue his offensive production tallying his first goal of the playoffs and fifth in three games at 4:40 of the opening period. Brent Kelly and Cory Stillman would assist in the power play goal. Corpus Christi would pull even at the 13:00 mark grabbing their first goal of the game from Ryan Carter. Jim Shepherd and Niklas Lindberg would collect helpers on the game tying marker.
Just 1:16 into the middle period Lindberg would notch his first goal and second point of the night from Kevin Watters and Steve Pelletier on a slapper from the blue line past the right shoulder of Sundogs' goalie Mike Wall. With 3:46 to play in the frame Lindberg would tally his second of the night, again from Watters on a 2-on-0 break to give his club a 3-1 lead. It looked as though the Rayz would carry a two goal lead into the locker room after two periods of play but Arizona would remain perfect with the man advantage converting on its second power play of the night with just 25 seconds left to play in the second. Stillman and Kelly would team up for their second points of the night to find an open Chris Bartolone who would fire a one-timer past Vogel cutting Corpus Christi's lead back to one.
In the third, Corpus Christi would regain a two goal lead at the 6:20 mark as Matt Turek would find the net on a shorthanded goal from Ryan Carter and Jay Hardwick. At the midway point of the third, Kelly would grab his third point and first goal of the night pushing the puck across the goal line in front of crowded goal crease. Dmitri Leonov would be credited with an assist in the Sundogs' third goal. Both clubs would see chances through the end of the game and Arizona would pull netminder Wall in exchange for an extra offensive skater but the strategic move would fall short as Corpus Christi would hold on for the 4-3 win.
Arizona would outshoot Corpus Christi 41-29 in the contest. Sundogs goalie Mike Wall stopped 25 of 29 shots faced in the loss while Rayz netminder Ron Vogel deflected 38 of 41 shots for the win. Both teams converted on 50% of their power play chances with the Rayz going 1-for-2 and the Sundogs finishing 2-for-4. The two teams square off again tomorrow evening at 6:05pm Arizona time. Catch the game live on 96.7 FM The Wolf, the Official Broadcast Home of the Arizona Sundogs.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2007
- Scorpions Beat Gorillas In Playoff Opener - New Mexico Scorpions
- Rayz Take 1-0 Series Lead - Arizona Sundogs
- Eagles Cruise to 7-2 Victory over Youngstown - Colorado Eagles
- Eagles Lead Best-of-Seven Series 1-0 - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Bucks Muster Franchise Record 61 Shots In Loss - Laredo Bucks
- Rayz tame Sundogs in Game One - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Blazers even series at one - Mississippi RiverKings
- Thunder Shock Mudbugs in Game One of the Playoffs - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Scorpions To Hold Silent Auction This Weekend - New Mexico Scorpions
- Scorpions playoff game tonight - New Mexico Scorpions
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