Sundogs Drop Third-Straight, Remain Winless
Published on October 22, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs outpaced the Amarillo Gorillas and controlled play for most of the game Wednesday night but the opportunistic Gorillas improved to 4-0-0 on the year, leaving the Sundogs winless after the team's first three games to open the season. Arizona outshot Amarillo 46-22 in the contest.
Arizona came out in the first period Wednesday night looking like a team they had yet to resemble this season, dominating the Gorillas and outshooting the visiting club 18-6 through the first 20 minutes of play. The Sundogs tallied nine shots before Amarillo was credited with their first attempt on net early in the frame. Despite controlling the play, the Gorillas jumped out to a 1-0 lead just over seven minutes into the contest after Torren Delforte was whistled for tripping on what seemed like nothing more than a lost edge by an Amarillo player. With 16 seconds remaining in the man advantage, Jason Hill collected a loose rebound at the top of the crease and circled before slipping it across the goal line. Arizona answered with just under three minutes to play in the period on a tic-tac-toe play to send the game into the first intermission knotted at one goal apiece. Stationed between the circles, defenseman Marek Jancek collected a pass from Chris Bartolone and beat goaltender Mike Brown for his first goal in an Arizona Sundogs uniform. Veteran forward Steve Potvin collected his first point since joining the Sundogs, also assisting on the play.
Despite holding a 31-14 advantage in shots, the Sundogs found themselves down 3-1 after 40 minutes of play after Amarillo twice found the back of the net in the middle period. Stuart MacRae opened scoring in the second to reclaim a one-goal lead, slamming home an Austin Sutter rebound just shy of the game's midway point. Three minutes later, David Nimmo won a faceoff directly to Jake Obermeyer who trickled a shot through traffic and past netminder Kyle McNulty at the 13:19 mark for a two-goal cushion heading into the third period.
The Sundogs cut the deficit to one early in the third but Amarillo tacked on a shorthanded tally and its second power play marker of the game later in the period for the eventual 5-2 final. Skating 5-on-4 after a Dan McNeill cross checking penalty, Delforte gained the offensive zone and circled low before sending a centering feed to Potvin for the power play tally, his first goal in a Sundogs uniform and second point of the game. With his team shorthanded, Amarillo's Jake Morisette collected his second point of the night at the 11:24 mark, racing to a cleared puck that slowed in the neutral zone before skating in alone and beating McNulty stick side. Anthony Battaglia closed out scoring with two-and-a-half minutes to play with his club's second power play goal of the night.
Kyle McNulty fell to 0-2-0 on the year with 17 saves on 22 shots while Mike Brown remained unbeaten at 3-0-0 with 44 saves on 46 shots. Both clubs received six power play opportunities with Arizona converting once and Amarillo finishing twice with the man advantage. The Sundogs never allowed double-digit shots in the contest as Amarillo netted a game-high nine shots in the second period.
After three-straight home games to open the season, Arizona now heads on the road for five-straight beginning this weekend with a two-game set against the Rapid City Rush. Friday's game can be heard live beginning at 6:00pm (Arizona time) on KDDL 'Cattle Country' 94.3 FM, the Official Radio Home of Arizona Sundogs Hockey, or on www.cattlecountryradio.com.
Central Hockey League Stories from October 22, 2009
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- Bucks Look For 3-0 Start Friday - Laredo Bucks
- IceRays Acquire Flath From Amarillo - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Sundogs Drop Third-Straight, Remain Winless - Arizona Sundogs
- Gorillas Victorious In The Desert - Amarillo Gorillas
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