Sundogs Fall to Rush, 5-2, in Regular Season Finale
March 27, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs fell to the defending CHL Champion Rapid City Rush, 5-2, Saturday night at Tim's Toyota Center in the two teams' regular season finale.
Rookie Patrick Schafer scored just 14 seconds into the contest, setting a new Sundogs franchise mark for fastest goal to start a game, but the Rush tallied four straight goals before Arizona would again solve Rapid City netminder Danny Battochio.
Ryan Menei reclaimed a three-goal lead for his club with a tic-tac-toe power-play goal midway through the third period, all but securing the Rush their second consecutive regular season conference championship.
Brett Blatchford and John Wessbecker assisted on the game's opening tally, exchanging passes after Schafer won the game's opening faceoff. Schafer weaved through traffic and trickled a shot past Battochio for the early lead.
Cory Stillman held the previous record for fastest goal to start a game, scoring just 15 seconds into a game against the now-defunct Amarillo Gorillas on January 26, 2007.
Dave Grimson pulled the Rush even at one late in the opening frame, firing a slap shot from between the circles low glove side past Doug Groenestege with 1:26 to play as the teams skated 4-on-4.
Rapid City claimed a 2-1 lead early in the second period on a Scott Wray marker from Menei 3:59 into the middle frame.
Les Reaney extended his club's lead to two at the 16:20 mark, slapping a backhand from the right side of the cage after Groenestege was unable to control Reaney's initial shot from the slot.
Grimson tallied his second of the game just eight seconds into a late second-period power play opportunity, stretching Rapid City's lead to 4-1. Winning the ensuing offensive zone faceoff, Jesse Schultz sent a shot through traffic that found the far post before landing on the stick of Grimson with 47 seconds remaining in the frame.
Blatchford picked up his second assist of the game six and a half minutes into the third period, setting up Craig Macdonald's eighth of the season.
Groenestege, making his first start in net since February 27, turned aside 33 shots in the loss.
The Sundogs were held without a power-play goal on six chances while the Rush finished 2-for-7 with the man advantage.
Arizona opens their best-of-5 conference quarterfinals playoff series against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs on Friday, April 1 at 5:05pm (Arizona time) at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City, Louisiana. Listen to the game live online at www.cattlecountryradio.com and on KDDL âCattle Country' 94.3FM, the Official Radio Home of Arizona Sundogs Hockey.
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- Sundogs Fall to Rush, 5-2, in Regular Season Finale - Arizona Sundogs
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