Sundogs Maintain Hold on Division Lead with 6-5 Comeback Win
February 22, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs and New Mexico Scorpions battled in the second of three-straight divisional games Friday night at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Coming into the game, the Sundogs held a two-point advantage over the Scorpions and Odessa Jackalopes for the Southwest Division's top spot. Arizona trailed the entire game until the final seven minutes when Karl Sellan grabbed his second of the game on a breakaway chance. With the win, the Sundogs improve to 29-16-5 on the season and maintain a two-point cushion over second place Odessa. New Mexico sits in third place in the Southwest Division, four points back of Arizona.
New Mexico used the opening 20 minutes of play to build a two-goal lead over rival Arizona. Christopher Robertson found the back of the net 3:32 into the game for his 22nd of the season on passes from Kevin Harvey and Konrad Reeder. With less than three minutes to play in the first period, Robertson grabbed his second goal of the period with an unassisted tally. Despite trailing 2-0, the Sundogs outshot New Mexico in the first period by a 10-9 mark.
The Sundogs used a quick goal to start the second period as Dusty Collins gained the offensive zone and beat Scorpions netminder Andrew Martin with a low backhand shot. Defenseman Jon Landry and goaltender Rob McVicar collected assists on the play to make the score 2-1. The Scorpions regained a two-goal lead at the 4:27 mark with their first powerplay marker of the game. Craig Macdonald pushed the puck past McVicar on passes from Reeder and Robertson for their second and third points of the game respectively. Arizona pulled back within one at 8:42 of the middle frame as Cory Urquhart tallied his first goal since being assigned to the Sundogs by the NHL's Montreal Canadiens. Defensive partners Dan Laperriere and David Schlemko were credited with assists on the Sundogs first powerplay goal of the game. Arizona followed the Urquhart tally with their second powerplay goal in two-and-a-half minutes as Karl Sellan found the back of the net for his 17th goal of the season from Landry and team captain Chris Bartolone. New Mexico answered back with two powerplay goals to take a 5-3 lead into the second intermission following simultaneous Alex Leavitt tripping and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Vladimir Hartinger tallied the first with 52 seconds remaining in the period with Dominic Osman and Aaron MacInnis collecting assists. Reeder followed with his first goal and third point on the night 42 seconds later on passes from Mitch Stephens and Hartinger to close out second period scoring.
Arizona pulled back to within one at 6:01 of the third period with their third powerplay goal of the game. Kevin Cormier collected a pass from Landry and snapped a low shot through traffic and past Martin for his third tally of the year. Bartolone also helped on the play for his 30th assist of the season. The Sundogs tied the game at 5-5 with 8:57 to play in the third on rookie Mark Kolanos' 26th goal of the year as he lifted a shot over the shoulder of a screened Martin. Leavitt and Urquhart assisted on the game-tying goal. Just over two minutes later, Sellan left the penalty box following a high sticking penalty and snuck behind the Scorpions defense. Collins fed the streaking Sellan who found the back of the net for the second time Friday night to give his club its first lead of the game. Defenseman Adam Wood also was credited with an assist on the go ahead goal. The teams battled in the final minutes but Arizona would skate away with the 6-5 comeback win.
Rob McVicar appeared in net for Arizona and stopped 26 of 31 shots in the win while Andrew Martin deflected 35 of 41 shots for his club in the loss. Each club had nine powerplay chances on the night and both converted on three chances.
The two teams conclude their three-game set tomorrow night at 7:05pm at Tim's Toyota Center. Less than 300 tickets remain for Saturday night's tilt. Remaining 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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