Sundogs Fall Two Points Back of Playoff Spot in 3-1 Loss to New Mexico

Published on March 14, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs fell 3-1 in the second of four-straight against the New Mexico Scorpions to close out the regular season Saturday night, dropping two points back of the Corpus Christi IceRays and the Southern Conference's fifth and final playoff spot.

Neither club was able to beat the opposing team's goaltender in the opening period of play Saturday as Joel Gistedt turned aside 15 shots for Arizona while Kyle McNulty handled the five shots he faced for New Mexico.

After being held scoreless on their first two power play chances early in the first period, the Scorpions would find themselves with a lengthy two-man advantage to start the second as Arizona was twice penalized at the close of the opening frame. The Sundogs however continued their strong play while shorthanded, keeping the New Mexico club off the scoreboard. Chris Robertson finally broke the scoreless tie at the 15:44 mark with his team's 14th shorthanded tally of the season. Gistedt got a piece of Robertson's shot with his glove but the puck trickled into the back of the net for a 1-0 Scorpions lead. Extending their streak to five games with a power play goal, the visiting Sundogs responded just over a minute later as Chris Bartolone pinched from the blue line, collapsing on a loose rebound between the circles. Joel Irving recorded an assist on the equalizer along with Jon Landry, extending his current point streak to seven games. The Scorpions outshot Arizona 13-8 in the middle frame for a two-period 28-13 advantage.

The game remained knotted at one through the first half of the third period before rookie of the year candidate Torren Delforte netted his 22nd of the year to give New Mexico a 2-1 lead with 8:29 to play in regulation. Stationed at the far post, Delforte forced a loose puck past Gistedt from Mike MacDonald and Tom Maldonado. With just over a minute remaining in the contest and down by a goal, Head Coach and General Manager Marco Pietroniro pulled Gistedt off the ice in place of an extra skater. Skating 6-on-5, Arizona nearly tied the game as a shot through traffic rang off the post. Aaron MacInnis sealed the victory for New Mexico with an empty-net marker with 36 seconds to play in the game.

Outshot 39-31 in the contest, Gistedt turned aside 36 of 38 shots for Arizona in the loss while McNulty stopped 30 of 31 shots for his ninth win of the season in 19 appearances. Holding New Mexico scoreless on seven man-advantage opportunities, the Sundogs haven't given up a power play goal in 19 chances through their last three games. Arizona finished 1-for-6 on the power play in Saturday's loss.

With two games remaining in the 2008-09 season, the Sundogs (26-31-5) sit two points back of the Corpus Christi IceRays for the Southern Conference's fifth and final playoff spot. Corpus Christi also has a game in hand over the Arizona club.

The Sundogs close out the regular season next weekend with games against the Scorpions on Friday and Saturday at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Friday's game is set for 6:15pm (Arizona time) but will be tape-delayed until 7:00pm on 96.7 FM The Wolf, the Official Broadcast Home of the Arizona Sundogs.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 14, 2009


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