Sundogs Fall to Phoenix 7-6 in Overtime

Published on October 14, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs of the Central Hockey League closed out their 2007 preseason exhibition slate Saturday night against the ECHL Phoenix RoadRunners at Tim's Toyota Center in Game 2 of the '2007 Battle of the Desert'. With the Glass Cactus trophy on the line Saturday night the Sundogs would come out a different team and force overtime in a game that eventually ended in the RoadRunners favor, 7-6.

As was the case in Friday night's contest, the RoadRunners drew first blood on a goal by left winger Chris Stevens at 6:01 of the opening period. Defenseman Jeff Moor tallied an assist on the Stevens marker helping his club to a 1-0 lead. Arizona pulled even at the 12:14 mark as Arizona-native Dusty Collins fired a loose puck past RoadRunners netminder Nathan Lawson to give the Sundogs their first goal of the night with the man advantage. Forward-turned-defenseman Jon Landry and defenseman Matt Suderman grabbed assists on the power play goal.

In the second period Arizona grabbed its first lead of the series on its second powerplay goal of the night as Chris Greene shoved home a rebound off a Karl Sellan shot just 1:28 into the middle frame. At the 5:45 mark Phoenix squared the game at 2-2 on their first powerplay goal of the game from Thatcher Bell, with assists going to Peder Skinner and Scott Kelman. At 9:02 Phoenix would regain a one-goal lead as Skinner grabbed his second point of the game skating down the sideboards and beating Sundogs netminder Dave Stathos. Unhappy with the referees, Sundogs Head Coach and General Manager Marco Pietroniro received a game misconduct immediately following the Phoenix go ahead goal leaving the bench for the Sundogs dressing room. With 6:27 to play in the second Sundogs defenseman Jonathan Bernier found his way through the Phoenix defense and beat Lawson for an unassisted goal to even the score at three goals apiece. In the closing minutes of the period Arizona took back its one-goal lead as forwards Karl Sellan and Chris Greene teamed up for their second points and the Sundogs third powerplay goal on the night. Greene fed a waiting Sellan in front of the net who slammed the puck across the goal line with just 1:16 remaining.

Midway through the third period the RoadRunners pulled even with their second powerplay tally as defenseman Dave Pszenyczny fired a puck on net from the point past a screened Stathos. Skinner collected his second assist and third point of the night on the man advantage play. At 13:55 of the third Phoenix would take a 5-4 lead off a Sundogs turnover in their own zone. Phoenix's Kelman found Bell all alone in front of the Sundogs net leaving him one-on-one with the Sundogs goaltender. With 4:34 to play in the game the Phoenix club gained its biggest lead of the game as Bell notched his second goal of the period. Less than a minute later Arizona answered back cutting the lead back to one as veteran Guillaume Rodrigue notched an unassisted tally. The home club continued to pressure and eventually forced an overtime session as Greene grabbed his second goal and third point at the 17:33 mark. Landry and Sellan assisted on the play, both completing multiple-point efforts.

Arizona started the extra frame on the power play but was unable to convert with advantage. Halfway through the five-minute period Phoenix skated down on the Sundogs defense and worked a pass across the net to an open Sean O'Connor for the game-winner. Steve Birnstill was credited with an assist as the Phoenix RoadRunners won the 2007 'Battle of the Desert' taking home the first-ever Glass Cactus trophy.

Dave Stathos appeared in net for the Sundogs blocking 18 of 25 shots while Nathan Lawson got the nod for Phoenix stopping 23 of 29 shots for the win. Arizona improved on the powerplay from last night's contest finishing 4-for-12 while holding the RoadRunners to a 2-for-9 man advantage performance.

With the loss the Sundogs now fall to 2-2 all-time in preseason action. The Colorado Eagles skate into town next Friday at 7:05pm for the CHL regular season opener at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Tickets are available by phone at 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849), online at www.gettix.net or in person at the Tim's Toyota Center Box Office.

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Central Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2007


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