Sundogs Move Back into First with 2-1 Shootout Win

Published on January 23, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs and New Mexico Scorpions faced off in their 11th meeting of the season at the Tim's Toyota Center Tuesday night. Opposite the regular physical play both clubs share in the series, Tuesday night's match up was calm. Arizona would hold a 1-0 lead going into the third but the Scorpions would force the game to a shootout. Arizona would come away with a very valuable two points to push the Sundogs back into first place in the Southwest Division with Amarillo.

In a manner not representative of the hard-fought rivalry, the Arizona Sundogs and New Mexico Scorpions played a relatively quiet first period. Each team notched ten shots on goal but neither was able to break free of a scoreless first. Both clubs collected only two penalties each, also uncharacteristic of the series to date.

The second period started out much like the first in that both clubs broke up each others' scoring chances. The Sundogs would apply pressure midway through the period as Chris Greene would find Jordan Mowbray behind the Scorpions' defense during a line change. Mowbray would power his way to the net pushing the puck past New Mexico netminder David Cacciola at the 12:53 mark to break the scoreless tie. The Sundogs would continue to pressure outshooting the visiting Scorpions 15-6 in the period but would end the frame with the one-goal lead.

The third wouldn't see its first goal until midway through the period as the Scorpions' Rob Guinn would find a streaking Craig MacDonald out of the New Mexico zone. MacDonald would skate in with pressure from behind but would shovel the puck past Sundogs' netminder Chris King at the 9:22 mark to tie the game at one goal apiece. New Mexico would look much like Arizona of the second applying pressure and outshooting the Sundogs 9-6. The third would end in a tie sending the game to overtime.

In the extra period, the two teams would trade scoring chances. Arizona's Brent Kelly would be pulled down while on a breakaway resulting in a rare overtime penalty shot. Kelly would skate down firing the puck into Cacciola's glove. Kelly would redeem himself as the game would be forced into a shootout. Mike Falk would be the lone scorer for New Mexico in the shootout while Cory Stillman and Brent Kelly would score for Arizona, giving Kelly the game winner and keeping his nine-game point streak alive. With the goal, Kelly has scored in his last 19 of 20 games.

Chris King stopped 31 of 32 shots for the win while David Cacciola stopped 35 of 36 going into the shootout. Both teams went scoreless on the power play as Arizona would miss on nine chances while New Mexico would be unable to convert on their seven chances. Next up for the Sundogs are co-division leader the Amarillo Gorillas on Friday at the Tim's Toyota Center. Game time is set for 7:00pm. Catch all the action live on 96.7 FM The Wolf, the Official Broadcast Home of the Arizona Sundogs.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2007


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