Sundogs Begin Second Half with 4-2 Win Over Wichita, Move Back Into First Place

Published on January 19, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - In the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, the Arizona Sundogs and Wichita Thunder faced off Friday night in front of 4,767 fans at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Alex Leavitt, Tyler Redenbach and Chris Bartolone combined for nine points and Andrew Gallant stopped 29 of 31 shots, helping the Sundogs to a 4-2 win.

The first period saw two separate fights in the first four seconds. The two players involved in the Jan. 2 trade between the Sundogs and Thunder, Tyler Liebel and Chris Greene, lined up against one and other prior to the puck drop and immediately dropped the gloves and exchanged blows. Two seconds later, former Sundog Cedric Bernier traded punches with Lee Svangstu. Once play resumed, the Arizona Sundogs found their scoring ways and opened a two-goal advantage. Karl Sellan took a pass from Tyler Redenbach and skated down the far boards and slid a backhand shot past Thunder netminder Sebastien Laplante at the 5:03 mark for a 1-0 lead. Defenseman Chris Bartolone also collected an assist on the play. Bartolone tallied his second point and first goal of the night 63 seconds later with a powerplay marker from the point. CHL All-Star Game MVP Alex Leavitt was credited with an assist on the powerplay goal. At the 11:34 mark, Wichita cut the Sundogs' lead back to one on a Kris Wiebe score, his eighth of the season. Alex Goupil and Mathieu Wathier assisted on the play.

Arizona regained a two-goal lead at 7:39 of the second period as Leavitt collected a rebound and lifted a backhand over a sprawling Laplante for his 22nd goal of the season. Redenbach grabbed his second helper of the game along with rookie forward Jason Visser. With 8:59 to play in the frame, Wichita pulled to within one for the second time as Bruce Richardson grabbed his own rebound off the skate of defenseman Jon Landry and slid the puck past Sundogs netminder Andrew Gallant for his ninth goal of the season. Goupil assisted on the Richardson goal for his second assist of the game.

The Sundogs grabbed their third two-goal lead at 7:33 of the third period on a tic-tac-toe play from Redenbach, Leavitt and Rob Lehtinen. Redenbach gained the offensive zone and snuck a pass through the defense to Leavitt who swung a behind-the-back pass to a streaking Lehtinen who had an unprotected net to shoot at for his fourth of the year. Neither team found the back of the net in the game's final twelve-and-a-half minutes.

Andrew Gallant appeared in net for the 21st time this season and with the win improved to 13-4-1. Sebastien Laplante started in goal for Wichita and made 32 saves on 36 shots in the loss. The Sundogs converted on one of four powerplay chances while holding the visiting Thunder to 0-for-3 with the man advantage.

First place Arizona hosts second place Odessa tomorrow night at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley in a game that will decide who will hold sole possession of first place in the Southwest Division. Game time is set for 7:05pm. Tickets are still available by phone at 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849), on the internet at www.gettix.net and in person at the Tim's Toyota Center Box Office.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2008


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