Sundogs' 45-27 Shot Advantage Not Enough In 4-2 Loss
November 19, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - Looking to continue their strong play away from home, the Arizona Sundogs fell to the expansion Allen Americans, 4-2, Thursday in the first of three games in as many nights. The Sundogs lost for the fourth time this season while outshooting their opponent by at least 15 shots.
A pair of players signed earlier in the day figured into the scoring Thursday night as Mike Willemsen completed the hat trick effort in his first game with the Americans while forward Brett Hemingway assisted on Linus Fagemo's first period marker for Arizona.
Willemsen gave his new club an early 1-0 lead just 1:20 into the contest, catching Sundogs netminder Kyle McNulty off guard with a turn-and-fire shot from the half boards on a pass from Justin Bowers.
Notching his second of the game at the 13:42 mark, Willemsen picked up a bouncing puck in the neutral zone and skated in alone on McNulty on an uncontested breakaway chance after an Arizona player misplayed a flying puck at center ice.
Hemingway, in his first contest with Arizona, helped to cut Allen's lead back to one with a power play goal less than two minutes later. Stationed at the top of the goal crease, Fagemo netted his first of two goals on the night, slapping at a Hemingway rebound chance before knocking home his third effort past Americans' goaltender Chris Whitley.
Matching their offensive production in the first, the Americans stretched their lead to 4-1 after 40 minutes of play on second period goals by Willemsen and Nathan O'Nabigon.
O'Nabigon reclaimed a two-goal cushion for Allen early in the second, jamming the puck past across the goal line as McNulty attempted to freeze the puck with his glove 3:26 in.
Willemsen completed the hat trick after a flurry of chances midway through the second period. Cycling the puck down low, Willemsen skated from behind the Arizona cage and knocked a rebound out of midair for his third of the game and a three-goal cushion. Bowers was credited with his second assist of the contest along with Jordie Benn.
Arizona looked to have cut Allen's lead back to two late in the frame while on a 5-on-4 power play as three Sundogs players simultaneously celebrated what they thought was their second man advantage tally of the game. With no signal, play continued until a whistle allowed referee Steve Cruickshank to discuss the play with his linesmen and the goal judge, eventually ruling no goal.
The Sundogs continued to out-chance Allen in the second period, outshooting the expansion club by a 16-6 mark in the middle frame for a two-period 32-16 advantage despite trailing 4-1 after 40 minutes of play.
Fagemo's third of the year and second of the game from Konrad Reeder 12:05 into the third period pulled Arizona back to within two but that's as close as the visiting club would get as the Americans held on to remain unbeaten against the Sundogs in three tries.
McNulty (0-4-1) remains winless on the year after allowing four goals on 27 shots while Whitley improves to 5-1-1 with 43 saves on 45 shots.
Arizona finished 1-for-4 with the man advantage while holding Allen scoreless on two power play opportunities.
Next up for the Sundogs is the Wichita Thunder tomorrow at 6:05pm (Arizona time) in the second of three straight away from Tim's Toyota Center. Friday's game can be heard live on KDDL 'Cattle Country' 94.3FM, the Official Radio Home of Arizona Sundogs Hockey and online at www.cattlecountryradio.com.
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