Sundogs Notes
Published on March 7, 2011 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
The Arizona Sundogs (21-27-9) stretched their lead over the Laredo Bucks for the Berry Conference's eighth and final playoff spot to three points with a 2-1-0 record in three games against the Mississippi RiverKings last week.
The Sundogs trail the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees by one point for seventh place and sit just three points back of sixth-place Odessa and four points back of fifth-place Mississippi.
Arizona snapped a five-game winless streak and earned its third straight win at home Wednesday night at Tim's Toyota Center, topping the visiting RiverKings by a 4-1 mark in the first-ever meeting between the two franchises. Kyle Hood extended his point streak to six games with a pair of helpers in the victory, including his league-leading 30th power-play assist of the season on Luke Erickson's two-man advantage marker with 5:51 remaining in the contest.
On Friday, Luke Erickson scored the game's first goal midway through the opening frame but Mississippi and Alexander Pechurskiy shut down Arizona for the remainder of the contest en route to a 4-1 win. Pechurskiy finished with 27 saves, a number of which came on breakaway attempts. Craig Macdonald was unable to convert on a pair of 1-on-0 breaks including a penalty shot early in the third period, firing a snap shot into the leg pads of the Mississippi goaltender.
A season-high 3,145 fans were in attendance Saturday night at Tim's Toyota Center as the Sundogs handled the RiverKings, topping the visiting club by a 7-4 mark. The Sundogs chased Alexander Pechurskiy from the contest with five goals on 21 shots through two periods a night after the netminder allowed just one goal on 28 shots. Backup goaltender Larry Sterling allowed two goals on seven shots in 20 minutes of relief action.
Arizona opens a five-game road trip - its final road swing of the regular season - with four games in five days beginning Tuesday at 6:00pm (Arizona time) against Laredo (20-29-8). The Sundogs also face Rio Grande Valley and the Jackalopes on the season's final trip.
Quick Facts:
All-Time Record: 313 GP (145-140-28)
Season Record: 57 GP (21-27-9, 51 points)
Home Record: 29 GP (13-15-1, 27 points)
Road Record: 27 GP (8-12-8, 24 points)
Overtime: 4-6
Shootout: 1-3
Record Last 5: 2-1-2
Record Last 10: 3-4-4
Streak: W1
Berry Conference Standings: 8th Place
CHL Standings: 16th Place
Goals For/Goals Against: 178/220
Power Play: 64/358 (17.88%, 8th)
Penalty Kill: 71/334 (78.74%, 18th)
Sundogs Storylines:
- Tallying the game-winning goal in a 7-4 win over the RiverKings on 3/5, Mark Kolanos becomes the franchise's all-time leader in game-winning goals with 11. Kolanos ranks second on the team in game-winning goals this season with four and has tallied four goals in his first six games back from injured reserve and has six goals in his last 10 games overall.
- Arizona welcomed a season-high 3,145 fans to its game against Mississippi on 3/5.
- The Sundogs are winless in their last 12 road games (0-7-5). Their last road win dates back to December 11, a 3-2 overtime win over the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.
- Central Hockey League Commissioner Duane Lewis named the Arizona Sundogs as the hosts of the 2012 CHL All-Star Game in a pregame ceremony on Friday, March 4. Additional details will be announced at a later date.
- Kyle Hood's 63 points and 50 assists are both career highs. His 50 assists are fourth-most in the CHL while his 31 power-play assists are most in the CHL.
- Cam Keith is currently riding a seven-game point streak (3g/8a). Keith is averaging more than a point per game this season with 56 points (16g/40a) in 54 games.
- Luke Erickson also owns a seven-game point streak, tallying nine points (6g/3a) in that span. Erickson ranks second on the team in scoring with 60 points (35g/25a) in 50 games. Erickson's 35 goals are tied for third-most in the CHL.
- The Sundogs own a 15-13-5 record against fellow Berry Conference opponents but are just a 6-14-4 against teams from the Turner Conference.
- Arizona owns a 12-4-9 record in one-goal games this season.
- Craig Macdonald is averaging a point per game since joining the Sundogs, collecting 11 points (1g/10a) in 11 contests.
- Arizona is 11-2-4 when leading after one period, 13-2-3 when leading after two periods, 7-8-2 when tied after 20 minutes, 4-3-3 when tied after two periods, 3-17-3 when trailing after the first period and 4-22-3 when trailing after 40 minutes of play.
- The Sundogs are 8-16-3 when outshooting its opponent and 13-10-6 when being outshot in a game.
- Arizona is 4-3-2 in nine games against Laredo this season. Joey Sides leads the Sundogs in scoring against the Bucks with 10 points (3g/7a).
- The Sundogs are 5-1-0 in six games against Rio Grande Valley this season. Erickson leads Arizona in scoring against the Killer Bees with 16 points (8g/5a).
Scoring Streaks:
POINTS
GOALS
ASSISTS
Keith - 11 points (3g/8a) in 7 games
Erickson - 3 goals in 3 games
Keith - 8 assists in 7 games
Erickson - 9 points (6g/3a) in 7 games
Statistical Leaders:
Goals: Erickson (35)
Assists: Hood (50)
Points: Hood (63)
Plus/Minus: Schafer (+4)
Penalty Minutes: Smyth (262)
Power-Play Goals: Erickson (14)
Power-Play Assists: Hood (31)
Shorthanded Goals: Sides (5)
Shorthanded Assists: Sides (3)
Game-Winning Goals: Erickson (5)
Goaltending Leaders:
Games Played: Szuper (35)
Minutes Played: Szuper (2,019)
Wins: Szuper (15)
Shutouts: n/a
Goals Against Average: Szuper (3.48)
Save Percentage: Szuper (.901)
Upcoming Games:
- Tuesday, March 8 (6:00pm) at Laredo Bucks
- Radio: KDDL 'Cattle Country' 94.3FM
- Online: www.cattlecountryradio.com
- TV: http://chltv.neulion.com
- Wednesday, March 9 (9:30am) at Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Radio: KDDL 'Cattle Country' 94.3FM
- Online: www.cattlecountryradio.com
- TV: http://chltv.neulion.com
- Friday, March 11 (6:30pm) at Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Radio: KDDL 'Cattle Country' 94.3FM
- Online: www.cattlecountryradio.com
- TV: http://chltv.neulion.com
- Saturday, March 12 (6:30pm) at Laredo Bucks
- Radio: KDDL 'Cattle Country' 94.3FM
- Online: www.cattlecountryradio.com
- TV: http://chltv.neulion.com
Central Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2011
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- Jackalopes Weekly Update - Odessa Jackalopes
- Colorado Eagles Weekly Update - Colorado Eagles
- Sundogs Notes - Arizona Sundogs
- Bucks Start Huge Home Stand Tuesday - Laredo Bucks
- Komets Gain Five Points in Week 21 - Fort Wayne Komets
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