Sundogs Fall to New Mexico 6-4
February 20, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs and New Mexico Scorpions faced off in the Central Hockey League's lone game Wednesday night at Tim's Toyota Center, the first of three straight contests between the two Southwest Division clubs. New Mexico's Vladimir Hartinger and Konrad Reeder combined for eight points on the night, helping their club to a 6-4 win and sole possession of second place in the Southwest Division, two points ahead of third place Odessa and two points back of Arizona for the division lead.
New Mexico grabbed the first lead of the game just 23 seconds into Wednesday night's contest. Vladimir Hartinger took a pass from Ross McCain and found the back of the net for his 13th tally of the season. Arizona answered back on its first powerplay chance of the night as veteran defenseman Chris Bartolone fired a shot from the blue line past Scorpions netminder Mike Minard at 2:51 of the opening frame. Defensive partner Jon Landry helped on the play for his 19th assist on the season. The Scorpions regained a one-goal lead at the 11:26 mark as Hartinger notched his second goal of the period, lifting a wrist shot over the shoulder of Sundogs goaltender Marco Emond. Konrad Reeder and Craig Macdonald were credited with assists on the play.
The Scorpions and Hartinger opened the second period much like the first, tallying an early goal to take a two-goal lead. Hartinger's third of the game was assisted by Christopher Robertson at the 1:44 mark. Arizona fought back and tied the game at 3-3 after forty minutes of play with two powerplay markers in the period. Bartolone collected his second of the game at 7:45 of the middle period on passes from Karl Sellan and Alex Leavitt. At the 15:28 mark, Kevin Cormier pulled his club even at three goals apiece as he pushed the puck home off a Dan Laperriere slapshot from the point. Laperriere's shot missed wide but bounced to Cormier on the far post. Rookie defenseman David Schlemko also tallied an assist on the play for his 25th of the year.
New Mexico went on the 5-on-3 powerplay just over five minutes into the third period following four Arizona penalties in less than two minutes. The Sundogs held off the Scorpions early on but Macdonald converted for his first goal and second point of the night. Reeder and Hartinger notched assists on the play, regaining a one-goal lead for their club. With 5:50 to play and on a 5-on-3 advantage of its own, Arizona pulled back even at 4-4 as Leavitt grabbed a Chris Bartolone rebound and lifted the puck over a sprawling Minard for his 27th marker of the season. Laperriere collected his second assist along with Bartolone on the play. New Mexico regained a one-goal lead just 81 seconds later as Reeder scored on a shorthanded breakaway chance setup by a Ray Ortiz outlet pass. Reeder added his second of the game to give his club a two-goal lead with less than two minutes to play. Robertson and Aaron MacInnis grabbed assists on the play to close out scoring in the contest.
Marco Emond appeared in net for Arizona and stopped 40 of 46 shots in the loss while Mike Minard backstopped New Mexico to the win, blocking 30 of 34 shots. Arizona was strong on special teams finishing 4-for-8 with the man advantage while holding New Mexico to just 1-for-9 on the powerplay Wednesday night.
The two teams face off again Friday night in the second of three-straight at Tim's Toyota Center. 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.
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