Sundogs Fall to Eagles 3-2 in Overtime

February 9, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs and Colorado Eagles skated in their seventh meeting of the season Saturday night at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colo. Both teams came off wins Friday night as the Sundogs topped the Rocky Mountain Rage by a 4-3 score while the Eagles handed the Odessa Jackalopes a 5-2 loss. The Sundogs and Eagles needed overtime to decide a winner and it would be the home club skating away with the 3-2 victory.

Arizona opened a one-goal lead on its first powerplay chance of the night as veteran defenseman Dan Laperriere fired a one-timer from the blue line past Sebastien Laplante for his ninth goal of the season just 3:18 into the game. Alex Leavitt and Jason Visser collected assists on the play. The Sundogs took a 2-0 lead on their second powerplay chance of the night as Laperriere grabbed his second tally of the contest on a very similar setup pass from Leavitt. Laperriere rifled a one-timer from the point past Laplante at the 11:11 mark with assists being credited to Leavitt and David Schlemko. Each team tallied nine shots in the opening 20 minutes of play.

Colorado cut into the Sundogs' lead with its first goal of the game 6:14 into the middle period as Erik Adams fired a low shot past Sundogs goaltender Rob McVicar on passes from Riley Nelson and Dave Iannazzo. The Eagles tied the game at two goals apiece with 22 seconds remaining in the second frame as Iannazzo tallied his second point and first goal of the night as his shot deflected off an Arizona defenseman and into the top of the net. Seth Leonard notched an assist on the equalizer along with Adams, his second point of the game. After two periods, Colorado held a slight 22-19 advantage in shots.

The Sundogs outshot the Eagles by a 16-8 mark in the third period and each team saw chances but both Rob McVicar and Sebastien Laplante turned away every shot faced to force a five minute overtime session. The teams skated 3-on-3 to begin the extra frame as referee Timm Walsh tagged Fraser Filipic and Alex Leavitt with two minutes each for roughing. After 38 seconds of play, Jon Landry was penalized for tripping to give Colorado a 4-on-3 powerplay. While on the man advantage, Colorado's Ed McGrane pushed home a rebound to give his club the 3-2 win. Brad Williamson and Adams tallied assists on the game-winning goal.

Arizona's Rob McVicar blocked 28 of 31 shots in the loss while Sebastien Laplante stopped 33 of 35 shots for the win. The Sundogs finished 2-for-5 on the powerplay while the Eagles were 1-for-5 Saturday night with the man advantage. With the loss, Arizona falls to 26-15-4 but maintains a two-point advantage over second place clubs the Odessa Jackalopes and New Mexico Scorpions.

The Sundogs now travel home to Arizona for six-straight at Tim's Toyota Center beginning on Wednesday, February 13 against the Amarillo Gorillas. Game time is set for 7:05pm. 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 Tim's Toyota Center.



Central Hockey League Stories from February 9, 2008


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