Sundogs' Comeback Effort Falls Short as Eagles Hold on for 7-6 Win

Published on December 23, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - Trailing 5-1 after 20 minutes of play, the Arizona Sundogs battled back in the second and third periods to pull within one but the comeback fell short as the Colorado Eagles held on for the 7-6 win Wednesday night at the Budweiser Events Center in the final game before a weeklong Christmas break.

The Sundogs outscored the Eagles 5-2 through the game's final two periods but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.

Joey Sides finished with four points on the night, extending his point streak to five games in which he is averaging two points per contest. The second-year forward now has five goals in his last four games.

Kevin Ulanski led the way for Colorado, collecting two goals - including the eventual game winner 3:27 into the third period - and a trio of assists in the win.

Scoring just once on its last 24 power play chances through the last five games, Arizona converted four times on seven man advantage opportunities Wednesday.

Ulanski opened scoring to give Colorado an early 1-0 lead, firing a wrist shot between the legs of Levente Szuper just 23 seconds into the contest.

Scott May stretched the Eagles' lead to two just over a minute later, one-timing a Ulanski centering feed past Szuper from between the circles with his team on its first power play of the game. Ulanski circled behind the Sundogs net before finding May in the slot at the 1:44 mark.

Daymen Rycroft opened a three-goal cushion for Colorado with 11:10 to play in the opening frame, catching Arizona on a line change before blasting a slap shot from the near faceoff dot.

Sides got his team on the board with his first tally on the night at the 12:39 mark, converting on the Sundogs' second power play chance of the period. Skating across the top of the goal crease, Sides redirected a Tyler Butler shot from the point, knocking the effort out of the air and below the glove of Andrew Penner.

Riley Nelson reclaimed a three-goal lead for Colorado with four minutes remaining in the first period, forcing a turnover at the Sundogs blue line and skating in alone on Szuper before recording the Eagles' fourth shorthanded marker of the year.

Continuing to pressure in the closing moments, Steve Haddon found the back of the net with 2.8 seconds showing on the clock, tapping a loose puck across the goal line for a commanding 5-1 lead.

After allowing five goals in 17 shots in the first period, Szuper was replaced by rookie goaltender Bobby Jarosz at the start of the second period.

Sides' second power-play goal of the game at 5:37 of the second cut Colorado's lead to 5-2. Kyle Hood backed towards the halfboards before threading a rink-wide pass to Sides at the right post.

Ulanski pushed the score to 6-2 in favor of Colorado with his fourth point and third assist of the game just shy of the second period's midway point, finding May backdoor for the forward's second man advantage goal of the game.

Rookie forward Jason Williams snapped a eight-game goal scoring drought with 7:56 to play in the frame, one-timing a Billy Bezeau cross-ice feed from below the near circle cutting Arizona's deficit to three.

Luke Erickson finished with two goals on the night, his first coming on the power-play with just under five minutes remaining in the second. Sides assisted on the play, skating along the near boards before finding Erickson between the circles. Erickson's second of the game at the 7:59 mark cut the Eagles' deficit back to one, a score the Sundogs hadn't trailed by since 1:44 of the opening period.

Jason Visser was credited with his third goal of the season and Arizona's first even strength goal of the contest 4:45 into the final period, slipping the puck past Penner as he was falling to the ice.

Jarosz suffered the loss, allowing two goals on 25 shots in nearly 38 minutes of relief action.

Arizona (11-13-4) remains in a two-way tie for seventh place in the Berry Conference with the Odessa Jackalopes and sits just one point back of fifth place and three points back of third place.

Next up for the Sundogs is a three-game set against the Laredo Bucks at Tim's Toyota Center beginning Wednesday, Dec. 29 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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Central Hockey League Stories from December 23, 2010


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