Sundogs Back in Two-Way Tie for First Place after 5-2 Loss
February 29, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs and New Mexico Scorpions faced off against one and other at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico Friday night in the two clubs' fourth meeting in nine days. The two teams matched each other through the first two periods of play but a three-goal third period lifted the Scorpions to a 5-2 win. With the loss, Arizona falls back into a two-way tie for first place in the Southwest Division with the Odessa Jackalopes. New Mexico now sits just two points back of the division leaders.
Chris Bartolone gave his club an early 1-0 lead with the Sundogs' league-best 86th powerplay goal of the season at 3:59 of the opening frame. Alex Leavitt assisted on the play for his 91st point of the season. With the assist, the CHL All-Star Game MVP now sits two points back of Laredo's Jeff Bes for the league's scoring lead. New Mexico pulled even at 1-1 at the 7:59 mark on an Erik Johnson powerplay tally from Dominic Osman and Mitch Stephens to close out first period scoring.
The Sundogs regained a one-goal lead at 9:33 of the second period as Karl Sellan redirected a Jon Landry shot past Scorpions netminder Andrew Martin for his 19th of the year. Barry Horman was also credited with a helper on the go ahead marker. Four minutes later, the Scorpions again tied the game, this time on a goal by Christopher Robertson. Konrad Reeder and Craig Macdonald collected assists on the equalizer, again closing out scoring in the period.
New Mexico grabbed its first lead of the game on the first of three-straight unanswered goals en route to a 5-2 win. Reeder grabbed his second point and first goal of the game as he beat Sundogs goaltender Rob McVicar at 6:52 of the third period. Vladimir Hartinger and Blair Stayzer assisted on the Reeder tally to give their club a 3-2 lead. Just past the period's midway point, Stephens added to his point total with his 17th goal of the season from Ross McCain and Macdonald. Stephens followed with his third point and second assist of the game 1:40 later, setting up Johnson for his second goal of the game, sealing the 5-2 victory.
Rob McVicar appeared in net for Arizona and fell to 5-4-1 on the season. Andrew Martin picked up the win, improving to 15-11-1 on the year. The Sundogs were perfect on the powerplay Friday night going 1-for-1, but allowed New Mexico to convert on two of three chances in the loss.
The Sundogs, 30-18-5 on the season, remain in a two-way tie for first place in the Southwest Division with the Odessa Jackalopes, who skated past the Colorado Eagles 5-2 on Friday night. With the win, the Scorpions sit just two points of Arizona and Odessa in the Southwest Division race. Arizona next travels to Colorado for weekday matchups against the Colorado Eagles and Rocky Mountain Rage. The Sundogs first take on the Eagles on Monday night at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colo. Game time is set for 7:05pm and can be heard live on 96.7 FM The Wolf, the Official Broadcast Home of the Arizona Sundogs.
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Central Hockey League Stories from February 29, 2008
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