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Rush Snaps Sundogs' Three-Game Win Streak, 8-2, in Penalty-Filled Contest

December 18, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The visiting Rapid City Rush snapped the Arizona Sundogs' three-game winning streak with an 8-2 victory Friday night at Tim's Toyota Center in a contest riddled with penalties.

Tempers flared throughout the night with 110 minutes in roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct, misconduct and fighting penalties handed out by referee Steve Cruickshank.

The third period alone saw three separate fights, including two at the 20-minute mark, setting the stage for Saturday's third straight meeting between the two clubs.

Rapid City's Jay Birnie completed the hat trick effort, tallying his third goal with 34 seconds remaining in the contest. Birnie finished the night with a plus-3 rating and 11 minutes in penalties.

Winners of three straight heading into the night, the Sundogs dropped just their second contest in their last seven games.

Arizona was held without a power-play goal for the third straight game, finishing 0-for-8 with the man advantage. The Sundogs are scoreless on their last 14 power plays dating back to a 3-2 overtime win over the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on December 11.

Colt King gave Rapid City a 1-0 lead late in the opening frame, one-timing a rebound past a diving Doug Groenestege from the far circle with 28 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Groenestege made the initial save on a Ryan Menei shot from the near circle but was unable to control the rebound, sending the puck onto the stick of King striding down the far boards.

Les Reaney extended his club's lead to two with a power-play goal 41 seconds into the second period, sending a shot through traffic and past a screened Groenestege just 11 seconds into the early man advantage.

Birnie made it 3-0 in favor of the Rush at the 4:01 mark with the first of three tallies on the night.

Kyle Hood collected his third goal in two games with 12:26 to play in the middle frame to cut the deficit back to two. Skating through the slot, Hood one-timed a Joey Sides centering feed past Danny Battochio to break the netminder's shutout bid.

Immediately following the goal, Levente Szuper entered the game in relief of starting goaltender Groenestege who left the game with an undisclosed injury.

Birnie reclaimed a three-goal lead at the 11:50 mark, firing a low slap shot from the top of the far circle past Szuper. Derek LeBlanc worked through the neutral zone before leaving the puck at the blue line for Birnie trailing the play.

Sides picked up his second point of the game, pulling Arizona to within two 4:49 into third period with his seventh of the year from Hood and Billy Bezeau.

Menei, Scott Wray, Reaney and Birnie each added goals in the game's final 14 minutes en route to their team's 13th win of the season.

Groenestege suffered the loss, allowing three goals on 20 shots through 27:34 of action before being replaced by Szuper midway through the game. Szuper turned away 13 of 18 shots in just over 32 minutes of play.

The two teams close out a three-game set at Tim's Toyota Center tomorrow night at 7:05pm (Arizona time). Tickets start at just $12 and are available by phone at 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849), online at www.GetTix.net and in person at the Tim's Toyota Center Box Office.

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