Sundogs Drop Second Game Of Season To Allen, 6-4
Published on October 18, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs and Allen Americans skated in the second of a two-game set to open the 2009-10 season Saturday night at Tim's Toyota Center. Tied at two after 20 minutes of play, Allen used a three-goal second period to take a lead they would fail to relinquish en route to the franchise's second-straight win and a 2-0-0 start to the season. Arizona tallied twice in the final period but was ultimately unable to pull back even.
The visiting Allen Americans jumped out to a 2-0 lead less than four minutes into the contest Saturday night on goals by Chris Kaufman and Christian Gaudet separated by just 1:07. Kaufman knocked a puck out of the air and past J.F. Perras to open scoring and Gaudet netted his second goal a minute later for an early two-goal cushion. Scoring its first goal of the 2009-10 season, Arizona responded to cut the deficit in half with a Kyle Hood power play tally at the 14:32 mark. Stationed at the top of the goal crease, Hood redirected a Mike Nesdill shot through traffic past Allen netminder Charlie Effinger. Newcomer Thomas Roussel also assisted on the play. Veteran defenseman and player/assistant coach Chris Bartolone pulled his club even at two goals apiece with 1:03 to play in the opening frame, collapsing a loose puck between the circles for his first point of the year from Kevin Gardner and Jason Visser. Allen held a commanding 17-7 advantage in shots through the first 20 minutes.
The visiting Americans controlled the second period, outshooting the Sundogs 15-8 to take a three-goal lead. Jarret Lukin and Jordie Benn book-ended the middle frame with power play markers and Erik Adams added an even-strength tally near the period's midway point for a 5-2 advantage through 40 minutes of play. Thirty-four minutes in penalties were handed out by referee Peter Friesema in the second after just 12 minutes in the first.
Tobias Whelan stretched his club's lead to a game-high four goals at 11:31 of the third period, beating Perras in a race to an uncontested puck at the top of the circles. Recently-acquired forward Torren Delforte notched his first point of the season with 5:40 to play in the contest, netting the Sundogs' second power play goal of the game from Bartolone and Nesdill, their second points of the night. While shorthanded after a Marek Jancek boarding penalty, Konrad Reeder pulled his club to within two with his first goal of the season, intercepting a pass before breaking free and skating in alone on Effinger. Reeder slipped the puck beneath the goaltender as the penalty to Jancek expired for the late even-strength tally for the game's final score. Tempers flared in the game's closing seconds as unsportsmanlike conduct and roughing double-minors were handed out amongst the two teams.
J.F. Perras got his first start in net this season and turned aside 38 of 44 shots in the loss while Charlie Effinger improved to 2-0-0 on the year with 20 saves on 24 attempts. Each team converted twice on the power play Saturday with Arizona finishing 2-for-11 and Allen 2-for-8 with the man advantage.
Arizona looks to grab its first win of the season as they take on the Amarillo Gorillas on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at Tim's Toyota Center. 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.
Central Hockey League Stories from October 18, 2009
- Gorillas Ground RiverKings In Weekend Finale - Mississippi RiverKings
- Gorillas Dominate, Win 5-2 - Amarillo Gorillas
- Sundogs Drop Second Game Of Season To Allen, 6-4 - Arizona Sundogs
- Rush Complete Opening Weekend Sweep Of Mavericks - Rapid City Rush
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