Sundogs Drop Game 1, Fall 3-2 to Mudbugs

April 1, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs held two separate one-goal leads in their first postseason game since the 2008 playoffs but were unable to hold on as the second-seeded Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs skated away with the 3-2 win in Game 1 of the best-of-5 conference quarterfinals Friday night at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier-City, Louisiana.

Winners of five straight postseason games dating back to the 2008 Southern Conference Finals, the Sundogs twice led by a goal in the opening frame but a pair of second-period markers by Bossier-Shreveport's David Rutherford proved to be the difference.

Trailing by a score, Rutherford tallied his club's second power-play marker of the contest just over a minute into the middle frame, one-timing Justin Aikins' pass through the slot past Scott Reid before inadvertently picking up his second goal of the playoffs at the 15:07 mark as a Andy Contois centering attempt found the skate of Robertson in the low slot as the two teams skated 4-on-4.

Joey Sides struck first in Game 1 to give Arizona a 1-0 lead midway through the opening frame, pushing a rebound past goaltender Ryan Munce as players from each team scrambled for the loose puck at the top of the goal mouth. Munce turned aside a Jamie VanderVeeken shot from between the circles and multiple chances in close before Sides picked up his first career playoff tally 10:02 into the contest.

Jeff Kyrzakos pulled Bossier-Shreveport even at one just nine seconds into a first-period man advantage opportunity with 5:20 to play in the opening frame but Craig Macdonald responded 17 seconds later, intercepting a Mudbugs outlet pass and reclaiming a one-goal lead for the Sundogs.

Bossier-Shreveport converted twice on six man advantage chances while the Sundogs were scoreless on six power play opportunities.

Reid finished with 29 saves in the loss while Munce turned aside 27 attempts to earn the win.

Game 2 of the best-of-5 series is set for tomorrow at 5:05pm (Arizona time). Listen to the game live online at www.cattlecountryradio.com and on KDDL ‘Cattle Country' 94.3FM, the Official Radio Home of Arizona Sundogs Hockey. The series will shift to Arizona and Tim's Toyota Center for Game 3 on Tuesday, April 5.



Central Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2011


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