Sundogs Fall 4-3 to Mudbugs, Sit One Point Back of Corpus Christi for Fifth Playoff Spot

February 20, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - Wearing special Phoenix Coyotes themed jerseys in celebration of their affiliation with the NHL club, the Arizona Sundogs battled the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Friday night in the first-ever meeting between the two teams at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. The two teams exchanged one-goal leads throughout the contest but Bossier-Shreveport would tally the final goal en route to a 4-3 victory. With the loss, Arizona falls out of the Southern Conference's final playoff spot, one point back of Corpus Christi.

The two teams traded one-goal leads in the opening period Friday night but the visiting Mudbugs skated into the first intermission with the lead, 3-2 over host Arizona. Bossier-Shreveport's Neil Clark opened scoring five minutes into the contest with his seventh of the year from David Pszenyczny and Brett Angel. Arizona responded 1:29 later as Matt Craig skated through several Mudbugs players before skating in alone on Jon Horrell and sliding a shot past the netminder. Mark Kolanos extended his current point streak to three games, assisting on Craig's fourth since joining the Sundogs. Arizona tallied again three minutes later for its first lead of the game. Defenseman Chris Bartolone gathered his fourth goal in five games, pinching from the blue line and sending a Rob Lehtinen backdoor feed past Horrell. Angel and Pszenyczny connected again just past the period's midway point to pull even at 2-2. Angel grabbed his sixth of the season, lifting a shot under the crossbar from the top of the circle at the 10:59 mark. Skating 5-on-3 with four minutes to play in the frame, Bossier-Shreveport regained a one-goal lead as Dale Lupul knocked in a shot from the slot, helping his club to a 1-for-2 power play mark in the first. The Mudbugs more than doubled Arizona in shots in the period, 17-7.

Trailing by a goal for more than 19 minutes in the second, Arizona capitalized on a late power play opportunity to tie the game at three goals apiece heading into the final period of play. Left alone at the top of the goal crease, Dwayne Hay collected a Chris Bartolone pass from the top of the circle and turned and fired a low backhand past Horrell for his second goal in as many games. Joel Irving was also credited with an assist on the late man-advantage tally. Opposite the first, Arizona controlled play in the second, outshooting Bossier-Shreveport 19-10 in the period.

The Mudbugs and Sundogs each collected quality scoring chances in the third period but the difference would prove to be an early power play marker by Clark, his second goal of the game. Gaining the offensive zone and turning at the far circle, Clark sent a wrist shot on net that found its way past a screened Joel Gistedt and into the back of the net 3:10 into the final frame. Arizona pulled Gistedt in favor of an extra attacker but the effort fell short as Bossier-Shreveport held on for the 4-3 victory.

Phoenix Coyotes prospect Joel Gistedt fell to 8-13-0 on the year stopping 32 of 36 shots in the loss while Jon Horrell improved to 9-2-1 with a 30-save performance. The Sundogs finished 1-for-5 with the man-advantage while the Mudbugs converted on two of five chances.

Arizona (22-26-3) looks to climb back into a playoff position tomorrow night as it once again battles the Mudbugs 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 February 20, 2009


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