Sundogs Nip Mudbugs 3-1
Published on January 3, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
BOSSIER CITY, LA - The Arizona Sundogs scored two goals in the first six minutes of the third period to break a scoreless tie and held off the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs late to earn a 3-1 win on Saturday night at CenturyTel Center. The Mudbugs cut the lead to one in the third period, but couldn't beat Arizona goaltender Marco Emond again to tie the score in their first-ever meeting with the Sundogs.
Joe Blaznek scored the Bugs' lone goal on assists from Travis Clayton and Dale Lupul, and Ken Carroll turned in another solid effort in goal, stopping 28 of 30 shots in defeat. Joel Irving's empty-net goal sealed Arizona's 15th win of the year with 36 seconds left.
Arizona outshot Bossier-Shreveport 13-9 in the first period, but it ended with no score for the second consecutive night. Ken Carroll made a great save during a Sundogs powerplay in the period, stopping Arizona's Karl Sellan with a left pad to keep the game scoreless.
The Mudbugs turned in a great penalty-killing effort in the second, holding the Sundogs off the scoreboard during a 5-on-3 powerplay that lasted over a minute. The Bugs outshot the âDogs 11-7 in the second period, but couldn't break the deadlock and the game stayed scoreless into the third.
Rookie Adam Perry notched the first Arizona goal on a feed from Jon Landry just 1:28 into the final period to put the defending Champs on top. Rob Lehtinen picked up a loose puck in the slot and beat Carroll stick side to make it 2-0 Sundogs a few minutes later. The Mudbugs finally got on the board mid-way through the period when Dale Lupul's dump-in took an odd carom off the boards and came right to Travis Clayton. Clayton then found Joe Blaznek, who roofed the puck over Emond's shoulder for his 11th goal of the season to make it 2-1. Despite their fourth powerplay of the night later in the third and a few scoring chanced, the Mudbugs couldn't tie the game up before Joel Irving's empty-netter finished off the scoring in a 3-1 Arizona win.
Carroll falls to 7-4-1 and snaps a three-game winning streak with the loss, while Emond won for the 11th time this year behind the strength of 28 saves. Bossier-Shreveport failed to score a powerplay goal for the third straight game, going 0 for 4 with the man-advantage. The Sundogs were 0 for 5 on the powerplay, but finished the night with a 31-29 shot advantage.
The Mudbugs will now close out a three-game homestand on Tuesday night before starting a season-high six game road trip next Thursday in Corpus Christi. The Bugs will have a chance to atone for a 6-0 loss in Mississippi on New Year's Eve when they host the RiverKings at 7:05 pm on Tuesday night in the fifth meeting of the year between the two division rivals. Individual tickets for Tuesday's game are available through Ticketmaster at 318-741-9700, while group and flex ticket packages are on sale through the Mudbugs office at 318-752-BUGS.
Central Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2009
- Beynon's Winner Gives Scorps Victory - New Mexico Scorpions
- Sundogs Nip Mudbugs 3-1 - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Rocky Mountain rolls past Amarillo, 4-1 - Amarillo Gorillas
- Kinnunen records hat trick - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Bucks Slip To Second With 4-1 Loss - Laredo Bucks
- IceRays beat Jackalopes 2-1 in shootout - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Nelson's Game Winner Beats OKC Again - Mississippi RiverKings
- Thunder Crushes Eagles - Wichita Thunder
- Jacks Fall 2-1 In Shootout to Corpus - Odessa Jackalopes
- Sundogs Continue Defensive Effort, Top Mudbugs 3-1 for Fourth-Straight Win - Arizona Sundogs
- Thunder Explodes in 7-2 Win; Ofukany Scores Hat Trick - Colorado Eagles
- Rush Top Oilers In First Meeting - Rapid City Rush
- Rage Begin '09 on a Winning Note - Rocky Mountain Rage
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