Sundogs drop fourth straight, fall to Scorpions
January 4, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs traveled to New Mexico to take on Southwest Division foe the New Mexico Scorpions Friday night, looking to snap a three-game winless streak, their longest of the season. The Sundogs opened scoring in the contest and newcomer Tyler Liebel collected two assists, but Arizona fell 5-3 to the Scorpions, dropping their fourth straight game. With the loss and an Odessa win Friday night, the Sundogs now sit in second place in the Southwest Division with a 19-9-2 record. Tyler Redenbach failed to tally a point for the first time this season ending his league-best 21-game scoring streak.
Arizona opened scoring in the contest at 11:23 of the first period as defenseman David Schlemko fired a shot from the point that CHL rookie-leading scorer Mark Kolanos deflected past Scorpions netminder Andrew Martin. Tyler Liebel, in his first game with Arizona since being traded from Wichita for Chris Greene, was credited with the second assist, picking up his first point with the Sundogs. New Mexico's Mitch Stephens evened the score at 1-1 as he took a pass from Vladimir Hartinger and found the back of the net for his ninth of the year. With less than three minutes to play in the opening frame, Hartinger grabbed his second point of the game on an unassisted tally to give his club a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
Newcomer Liebel gathered his second point of the game at 14:26 of the middle period as he found Alex Leavitt open for his 17th of the year to tie the game at two goals apiece for the second period's lone score. Defenseman Matt Suderman was also credited with an assist on the play.
The two clubs would combine for three goals in the first four minutes of the third period. Following a Mark Kolanos tripping call to open the period, the Scorpions went up 3-2 as Konrad Reeder collected his club's first powerplay goal of the night on their fifth chance with the man advantage at the 2:13 mark from Hartinger. Rookie Jason Visser answered back for Arizona 85 seconds later with an unassisted tally for his sixth goal of the season. New Mexico and Erik Johnson regained a one-goal lead at 4:34 of the third. Andrew Smale and Christopher Robertson teamed up to find Johnson before he pushed the puck past Andrew Gallant for the go-ahead goal. The Scorpions tallied an insurance goal with less than three minutes to play for a 5-3 advantage. Robertson scored for his second point of the game with Smale collecting his second assist along with rookie Dominic Osman. Tempers flared in the closing seconds as the Sundogs' Kevin Cormier, Jonathan Bernier and Matt Suderman exchanged blows with the Scorpions' Kevin Harvey, David Simoes and Shawn Skiehar.
Netminder Andrew Gallant was between the pipes for Arizona and made 35 saves on 40 shots faced, falling to 12-4-1 on the season. Andrew Martin proved while he is an All-Star for the Southern Conference, blocking 22 of 25 shots for his second straight decision. Arizona failed to convert on the powerplay, finishing 0-for-2 with the man advantage. The Scorpions finished 1-for-6 on the powerplay Friday night.
Arizona looks to put an end to their four-game skid as they travel to Texas for a Saturday night matchup against the Southwest Division's Amarillo Gorillas. Game time is set for 6:00pm (Arizona time) and can be heard live on 96.7 FM The Wolf, the Official Broadcast Home of the Arizona Sundogs.
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