Sundogs' Comeback Effort not Enough in 4-3 Loss

Published on November 7, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs' continued struggles with the man advantage paired with the Laredo Bucks' top rated power play spelled trouble in the three-game set's finale at Tim's Toyota Center as the Bucks left Prescott Valley winning two of three between the two clubs with a 4-3 victory Saturday.

Laredo finished 2-for-4 with the man advantage while the Sundogs failed to convert on nine chances in the 4-3 loss. Adam Rivet and former Sundog Mike Looby each collected goals while Arizona skated a man down in the contest.

The Sundogs staged a comeback, carrying the pace of play and peppering Jean-Philippe Levasseur with shots in the second half of the third period but in the end fell short.

Skating in his first action since being placed on 14-day I.R. after Arizona's opening night 1-0 loss to the expansion Allen Americans, Matt Foy helped the Sundogs to an early 1-0 lead, setting up Jason Visser for his fourth of the season 3:41 into the contest.

With possession behind the Laredo cage, Foy collected his first point of the year sending a centering feed to Visser between the circles to give the Sundogs its first lead since Wednesday night's 9-0 win.

Converting on nearly 30 percent of its power play chances coming into Saturday's meeting, Laredo again capitalized with Arizona down a skater to pull even at 1-1 just past the period's halfway mark.

J.F. Perras turned back a Jeff Bes shot through traffic but was unable to steer the rebound clear as Rivet collapsed on the loose puck for his third of the year at the 10:02 mark.

Shots were nearly even in the opening frame with Arizona holding a slight 9-8 advantage heading into the second period.

The visiting Bucks snapped a 1-1 tie midway through the middle frame on goals by Looby and Neil Trimm separated by just nine seconds for a 3-1 cushion after 40 minutes of play.

Converting for his team's second power play marker of the game, Looby notched his second of the season with Marek Jancek in the box for holding to give Laredo its first lead of the night at the 10:34 mark.

Trimm stretched that lead to 3-1 seconds later, skating through slot off the ensuing faceoff before flipping a backhand effort past Perras.

Cutting Laredo's lead back to one early in the third, Foy picked up his second assist of the night early on a nice set-up feed to Jon Landry pinching in from the blue line. With traffic in front, Landry sent a low shot far post that Levasseur had no chance at stopping.

The Bucks had a chance to reclaim a two-goal lead on a 2-on-1 break with 13 minutes remaining in the third but Perras went post to post with a leg pad save to keep the Sundogs' deficit at one. Laredo did regain a two-goal lead about a minute later on a turnover in the offensive zone. Maxime Lincourt intercepted a breakout attempt by Arizona on the near boards before beating Perras with a wrist shot with 12:19 to play in regulation in what would prove to be the eventual game winner.

Gaining momentum and controlling play in the Laredo zone, the Sundogs pulled back to within one on a Jancek one-timer under the cross bar from inside the near circle at the 10:44 mark. Through traffic, Jancek slapped the puck over the glove of Levasseur for his second of the year.

Perras fell to 3-2-1 on the year stopping 22 of 26 shots in the loss while Levasseur won his second straight with 31 saves on 34 shots.

Arizona continues a five-game home stand next Friday, Nov. 13 against the visiting Corpus Christi IceRays in the first of two straight against the Southern Conference opponent. Game time is set for 7:05pm. Tickets start at just $14 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 November 7, 2009


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