Sports stats



Sundogs Extend Win Streak to Eight Games with 7-4 Win

March 22, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - Donning pink-themed jerseys to benefit the Arizona Sundogs Foundation and breast cancer research, the Arizona Sundogs faced the Odessa Jackalopes on Friday night at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley in what could be a potential second-round playoff matchup. The two teams battled back and forth but Arizona never trailed and used its top-rated offense to skate past the Jackalopes 7-4 to extend its winning streak to a franchise-best eight games. In eight games dating back to Thursday, March 6, the Sundogs are averaging nearly seven goals per game, scoring no less than five in a contest during that time. With the CHL's scoring title all but locked up, Alex Leavitt collected two goals and two assists to increase his points total to 127 (39g/88a), 22 points ahead of Laredo's Jeff Bes.

Arizona used dominating play in the game's first 20 minutes Friday night to carry a three-goal lead into the first intermission. CHL leading scorer Alex Leavitt tallied his 38th goal of the season to give his club a 1-0 lead 4:05 into the period, pushing a rebound past the Jackalopes' Alexandre Vincent. Veteran defenseman Chris Bartolone and forward Barry Horman collected assists on the game's first goal. Leavitt grabbed an unassisted goal, his second of the game, two-and-a-half minutes later as he gathered a loose puck off the side boards and lifted a wrist shot over the rookie Vincent. The Sundogs opened a three-goal cushion just over two minutes later as first-year forward Dusty Collins fired a quick shot into an open net as Vincent was recovering from a shot off his mask by fellow rookie Mark Kolanos. Steve Rymsha also helped on the play for his eighth assist in just five games. Following Arizona's third tally, Odessa Head Coach Paul Gillis replaced his starting goaltender with backup Mike Gorman. The Sundogs outshot the visiting Jackalopes 22-11 in the opening frame.

Odessa broke their scoreless streak 6:25 into the middle period as Mark Johnson squeezed a snap shot through the legs of Sundogs netminder Rob McVicar for his sixth goal of the year and first since joining the Jackalopes club. Josh Legge and Emery Olauson assisted on the play to cut the Sundogs' lead back to two. Odessa pulled to within one just shy of the midway point of the second as Sebastien Thinel reached around McVicar with the puck and slid it across the goal line for his 32nd marker of the season. Linemates Dominic Leveille and Olivier Proulx were credited with assists on the play. Arizona regained a two-goal lead on their first powerplay chance of the night with 2:33 remaining in the second period. Alex Leavitt grabbed his third point and first assist of the game, threading a cross-ice pass to Cory Urquhart for a one-timer past Odessa goaltender Mike Gorman. Jon Landry also assisted on the play for his first point of the night, closing out scoring in the second period.

The Jackalopes pulled back to within one 2:27 into the final frame as the trio of Thinel, Leveille and Proulx combined for the second time in the game. Thinel grabbed his second of the game and 33rd of the year on his club's third of the night. Odessa tied the game at 4-4 less than three minutes later with their first powerplay tally of the night as Kevin Wilson netted his fifth goal of the season fourth with the Jackalopes on passes from Mario Joly and Brian Swiniarski. The Sundogs regained a one-goal lead with 11:32 to play in regulation with their second powerplay tally of the night. Bartolone pinched down low and lifted a rebound over Gorman for his 12th powerplay goal of the year and second point of the contest. Leavitt assisted on the man advantage goal for his second assist and fourth point of the night along with player/assistant coach Dan Laperriere. With less than two minutes to play, Tyler Liebel gave his team some breathing room with his 16th of the season, re-upping the lead to two goals. Landry and Bartolone assisted on the play for their second and third points on the night. Arizona native Dusty Collins then put the game out of reach with his second of the game, an empty netter to secure the 7-4 win. Rymsha and Wood helped on the game's final tally.

The Sundogs finished perfect with the man advantage Friday night, converting on both powerplay chances while holding Odessa to a 1-for-4 performance. Rob McVicar appeared in net for Arizona and blocked 34 of 38 shots to improve to 10-4-2 on the season. Alexandre Vincent started in goal for Odessa but was replaced by Mike Gorman after allowing three goals in the first nine minutes of play Friday evening. In his relief effort, Gorman stopped 24 of 27 shots in the loss. The Sundogs now stand at 38-19-6 with one game remaining in the 2007-08 regular season.

The two Southwest Division opponents face off again tomorrow night at 7:05pm (Arizona time) at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Tickets are available by phone at 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849), on the internet at www.gettix.net and in person at the Tim's Toyota Center Box Office.

• Discuss this story on the Central Hockey League message board...

Central Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Arizona Sundogs Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central