Sundogs Lose Two Big Leads, Escape with 8-6 Win
January 19, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs and Odessa Jackalopes faced off for the sixth time this season Saturday night at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, with each team battling for the Southwest Division's top spot. The Sundogs held separate four and three goal leads only to see Odessa fight back to pull within one each time but held on for an 8-6 win, and sole possession of first place in the Southwest Division.
The Sundogs opened a 1-0 lead early in the first period as Olivier Latendresse snuck a low shot through the legs of Odessa netminder Mike Gorman at the 4:49 mark. Defenseman Chris Bartolone and forward Karl Sellan both tallied an assist on the play. The Jackalopes answered back 71 seconds later as the Odessa club skated in four-on-two. Olivier Proulx and Dominic Leveille teamed up to find Sebastien Thinel open on the near post for the equalizer. The Sundogs scored the game's next two goals to carry a two-goal lead into the first intermission. Sellan converted on his club's first powerplay chance of the night for his 12th of the season from Jon Landry and Latendresse midway through the period. At the 16:04 mark, rookie forward Mark Kolanos gathered passes from Bartolone and David Schlemko and out-maneuvered Gorman for his 20th of the 2007-08 campaign.
Arizona dominated play early in the middle period and garnered a three-goal cushion 1:51 in as an Odessa defenseman ran into his own goaltender making way for Arizona native Dusty Collins to push the puck into the empty net. Defenseman Jeff Winchester and forward Jason Visser were credited with assists on the Collins tally. With 13:42 remaining in the second, the Sundogs collected their fifth tally of the game as Sellan notched his second point of the game, finding Alex Leavitt open between the circles. Leavitt converted for his 23rd of the year with a second assist going to Tyler Liebel. Following the Leavitt goal, Odessa coach Paul Gillis replaced Gorman with backup netminder Alexandre Vincent. The Jackalopes cut into the Sundogs lead at 12:04 of the frame as the puck took an awkward bounce off the end boards to Proulx who squeezed the puck past Gallant. Assists were given to Thinel and Leveille on their club's second goal. Odessa answered again just over a minute later as Nathan Ward found the back of the net on a setup pass from Mario Joly. Arizona would see its once four-goal lead dwindle down to one as Odessa converted on a five-on-three powerplay at the 15:37 mark. Leveille collected his third point of the game on passes from Joly and Alex Dunn.
The Sundogs regained a little breathing room early in the third as Kolanos notched his second of the game to put him back in a tie for the lead in scoring among rookies. Visser assisted on the Kolanos tally at 3:12 of the third period. With 7:55 remaining in the third, Arizona regained a three-goal lead as Tyler Redenbach patiently found the back of the net for his club's second goal with the man advantage. Bartolone and Alex Leavitt setup Redenbach for his 16th of the year. Nathan Ward squeezed the puck between Gallant and the near post 49 seconds later to make the score 7-5 in favor of Arizona. Dunn and Mike Rutter were credited with helpers on Ward's second of the contest. For the second time in the game, Odessa fought back from a large deficit to pull to within one. Leveille picked off a pass in the Sundogs defensive zone and slid the puck between Gallant's legs to give his team new life late in the third. Odessa pulled Vincent in place of an extra attacker but failed to capitalize with the extra pressure. Redenbach grabbed his second of the game with 32 seconds to play from Leavitt and Landry for the 8-6 win.
Andrew Gallant grabbed his second-straight win, stopping 20 of 26 shots while Odessa's starting netminder Mike Gorman blocked 7 of 12 shots before being replaced by Alexandre Vincent. The backup netminder deflected 21 of 23 shots in the loss. The Sundogs finished 2-for-4 with the man advantage wile holding the Jackalopes to 1-for-5 on the powerplay. Arizona improves to 22-10-4 on the season and holds leads of three and four points over second place Odessa and third place New Mexico respectively.
Third place New Mexico travels to Arizona for a Tuesday night matchup at Tim's Toyota Center. 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 the Tim's Toyota Center Box Office.
Central Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2008
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- Sundogs Lose Two Big Leads, Escape with 8-6 Win - Arizona Sundogs
- Brahmas crowned by Kings - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Amarillo Beats Killer Bees 5-3 - Amarillo Gorillas
- Hounds fall to Mudbugs - Youngstown SteelHounds
- RiverKings beat Brahmas 4-1 - Mississippi RiverKings
- 15th Consecutive Win Ties CHL record Streak - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Bucks Lose Third Straight Game - Laredo Bucks
- Ice Bats Top First Place Laredo, Have Won Five Of Six - Austin Ice Bats
- Scorpions Win Seventh Straight - New Mexico Scorpions
- Brahmas Buzz Past Bees - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Sundogs Begin Second Half with 4-2 Win Over Wichita, Move Back Into First Place - Arizona Sundogs
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