Sundogs Drop First Wednesday Game of Season Despite Three One-Goal Leads
February 11, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - Unbeaten in seven midweek contests this season prior to Wednesday night's contest against the Colorado Eagles at the Budweiser Events Center, the Arizona Sundogs looked to grab their first win of the year against a Colorado club they swept in four-straight games during the 2008 Ray Miron President's Cup Finals. Arizona held three separate one-goal leads in the contest but special teams proved too futile for the Sundogs as Colorado converted on five of nine power play opportunities en route to a 5-3 victory. Arizona was held to just one power play goal on six chances, including two lengthy 5-on-3 advantages.
The two teams opened their fifth and final contest of the season with back-and-forth play in a period that saw very few whistles. Scoreless through more than 19 minutes of play, Arizona converted on its best scoring chance of the frame with just 51 seconds to play in the first to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. Behind the Eagles net with possession of the puck, Rob Lehtinen sent a centering feed to Dwayne Hay at the top of the goal crease. Colorado goaltender Morgan Cey stopped the initial shot but veteran defenseman Chris Bartolone pinched from his position at the blue line, banging home the loose puck for his eighth of the year and fourth goal in as many games. Shots were nearly even in the period with Colorado holding a slight 9-8 advantage.
The back-and-forth play established in the opening period Wednesday continued into the middle frame as the two clubs traded goals throughout the second. Colorado and Steve Haddon opened scoring with a power play goal 1:08 into the period after a curious Sundogs delay of game penalty at the 20-minute mark of the first. Lehtinen netted his tenth of the year and second point of the night less than a minute later with an even-strength rebound tally. In transition, Bartolone fired a shot from the far boards that Cey was unable to control. The Eagles pulled even for the second time in the contest at the 7:45 mark with their second power play goal of the game. Haddon collected his second of the night, redirecting an Ed McGrane shot from the point past Marco Emond. Just past the midway point of the period, Irving had an opportunity to reclaim the lead for Arizona as the veteran forward found himself alone on the doorstep. Showing backhand, Irving forced Cey to the ice before a turnaround shot slid just wide. After failing to convert on a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage, Jon Landry regained a one-goal lead for the Sundogs with his club's first man-advantage goal of the game. Hay was credited with his second helper of the game while Bartolone recorded his third point on the night. Again on the power play, the Eagles tied the game at three goals apiece as McGrane grabbed his 15th of the year late in the period with a backdoor shot off an offensive zone faceoff just five seconds into Colorado's fourth man-advantage opportunity. Colorado outshot Arizona 13-8 in the middle period for a 40-minute 22-16 advantage.
The Eagles took their first lead of the game less than two minutes into the third after back-to-back hooking penalties to Matt Suderman and Peter Cartwright to open the period. Stationed at the top of the goal crease on with his club on a 5-on-3 power play, Ryan Tobler tipped an Aaron Schneekloth shot past Emond for his 28th of the year. Eagles captain Greg Pankewicz racked-up 37 minutes in penalties at the 4:19 mark and was eventually ejected after coming together with Mark Kolanos behind the Sundogs goal. Trailing by one in the final minute with Emond pulled in favor of an extra attacker, Arizona seemingly tied the game at 4-4 but referee Tom Steinel waived-off the goal and whistled Jason Lawmaster for cross checking. Tobler added another power play goal with one second remaining in the contest to close out scoring.
Emond fell to 14-12-3 on the year after stopping 31 of 36 shots in the loss while Morgan Cey turned aside 26 of 29 Arizona shots for his 12th win of the season. The Sundogs struggled with the man-advantage, converting just once on six opportunities while allowing Colorado five power play goals on nine chances.
Arizona (21-24-3) remains one point ahead of the Corpus Christi IceRays for the Southern Conference's fifth and final playoff spot despite the loss. The Sundogs next travel to Amarillo for a two-game set this weekend against the Gorillas. Friday's game is set for 6:05pm (Arizona time) but will be tape-delayed until 7:00pm on 96.7 FM The Wolf, the Official Broadcast Home of the Arizona Sundogs.
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Central Hockey League Stories from February 11, 2009
- Eagles Power Their Way Into Playoffs - Colorado Eagles
- Shutout Victory For Scorpions - New Mexico Scorpions
- Rapid City ekes by Amarillo in 2-1 shootout win - Amarillo Gorillas
- Sundogs Drop First Wednesday Game of Season Despite Three One-Goal Leads - Arizona Sundogs
- Scorpions Spoil Toivonen's Return, Jacks Fall 5-0 - Odessa Jackalopes
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