RoadRunners take 1-0 advantage in first-ever \'Battle of the Desert
October 12, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs of the Central Hockey League opened preseason exhibition play Friday night at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley against the Phoenix RoadRunners of the ECHL in the first-ever âBattle of the Desert'. The RoadRunners would ride a three-goal second period en route to a 4-1 win over their double-A counterparts.
The visiting ECHL RoadRunners were the first team to tally in Friday night's contest, collecting a goal at 5:02 of the opening frame on their first powerplay chance of the night. Brian Yandle found the back of the net on passes from Daniel Sisca and Scott Kelman to score the first period's lone goal, giving the RoadRunners an early 1-0 lead. Phoenix would outshoot the Sundogs by a mark of 10-5 in the period.
Just 2:26 into the second period the RoadRunners capitalized on a Sundogs turnover to take a 2-0 advantage. Nick Toneys took passes from Justin Maiser and Peder Skinner and pushed the puck past Sundogs netminder Andrew Gallant to give his club its second goal of the game. At 4:02 of the middle period Phoenix would tally its second goal with the man advantage to go up 3-0 as Daniel Sisca tallied his second point and first goal of the game. Justin Maiser and Brian Yandle also notched their second points on the night, collecting assists on the play. Frustrations boiled over as the game would see its first fights just 10 seconds later with Arizona's Jonathan Bernier and Chris Greene and Jeff Moor and Steve Covington of Phoenix all trading punches. Bernier and Covington were slapped with instigator game misconducts and escorted to the locker rooms. With seven minutes remaining in the second RoadRunners netminder Cody Rudkowsky began to see a barrage of Sundogs shots but Arizona would be unable to solve the Phoenix goalie. At the 16:45 mark the RoadRunners' Peder Skinner grabbed his second point of the game and his club's third powerplay goal as the puck found its way between Gallant's arm and the goal post. Defensemen Dave Pszenyczny and Steve Birnstill tallied helpers on the Skinner goal to close out second period scoring.
Less than a minute into the third period the two teams exchanged fists once again, this time with Sundogs centerman Dusty Collins and RoadRunners defenseman Reagan Rome facing off. In the encounter Rome would be tagged with two minutes for slashing, two minutes for instigating and an instigator game misconduct to give Arizona its sixth man advantage on the night. With 12:12 to play in the third the Sundogs would tally their first of the night cutting the RoadRunners' lead to three with Tyler Redenbach taking a pass from Jason Visser and sliding the puck through Rudkowsky's legs. The late-effort eventually fell short as the RoadRunners skated away with the 4-1 victory.
Sundogs netminder Andrew Gallant saw his first minutes as a professional stopping 21 of 25 shots while RoadRunners goaltender Cody Rudkowsky deflected 33 of 34 in the win. The Sundogs were unable to convert on the power play finishing 0-for-7 while Phoenix would finish 3-for-9 with the man advantage. The Sundogs would outshoot the RoadRunners on the night by a 34-25 tally.
The Sundogs and Phoenix RoadRunners skate in Game 2 of the âBattle of the Desert' tomorrow at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Game time is once again slated for 7:05pm. Don't miss your chance to see the presentation of the Glass Cactus trophy to the series winner. If the Sundogs are to win tomorrow night's game the two teams will then skate in a five-round shootout to determine the series winner. Tickets are just $13 regardless of location inside Tim's Toyota Center.
The Sundogs open regular-season play at home against the defending CHL Champion Colorado Eagles on Friday, October 19 at Tim's Toyota Center. Tickets are available by phone at 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849), on the internet at www.gettix.net or in person at the Tim's Toyota Center Box Office.
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