Sundogs Come Up Short in 4-2 Loss to Rush
February 12, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - Ryan Menei added to his league-leading goal total and the Rapid City Rush handed the Arizona Sundogs their seventh straight road loss, 4-2, Saturday night at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Menei's league-best 32nd of the year gave the Rush a 1-0 lead 9:29 into the contest. Doug Groenestege turned away a Scott Wray effort from the slot but the rebound found its way onto the stick of Menei at the left post as the forward converted on his team's first power play opportunity of the night.
Andrew Smale opened a two-goal cushion for Rapid City early in the second period, skating around a Sundogs defenseman and cutting across the top of the goal mouth before slipping a forehand effort past Groenestege just 2:05 into the middle frame.
Former Rush defenseman Jamie VanderVeeken nearly pulled Arizona to within one late in the period with a shot from between the circles that found the far post, but the missed chance resulted in a 3-0 lead for Rapid City at the other end of the ice. Jamie Carroll was credited with his third goal of the season on the ensuing play, throwing the puck off the skate of Groenestege as the netminder backed into the goal crease.
VanderVeeken ended Tim Boron's shutout bid three and a half minutes into the final frame with Arizona's 15th shot of the contest to make the score 3-1 in favor of the Rush but David Simoes reclaimed a three-goal lead for Rapid City less than three minutes later, battling for a second-chance effort in the low slot.
Acquired by Arizona at the CHL trade deadline, Craig Macdonald recorded his fourth goal of the year and first in a Sundogs uniform just past the midway point of the third period to cut the deficit back to two but the Rush would hold on for the 4-2 victory.
Groenestege finished with 28 saves while Boron was perfect through 43 minutes before allowing two goals in the final 16 minutes.
Arizona (18-25-5) sits in a tie for seventh place in the Berry Conference with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, two points ahead of the Laredo Bucks and ninth place.
The Sundogs return to Tim's Toyota Center to host the Odessa Jackalopes (20-22-6) on Tuesday, Feb. 15 at 7:05pm. 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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Central Hockey League Stories from February 12, 2011
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