Sundogs Notes
April 4, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
The Arizona Sundogs and Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs are tied at a game apiece in the opening round best-of-5 Conference Quarterfinals series.
Skating in their first postseason game since the 2008 playoffs, the Sundogs held two separate one-goal leads but were unable to hold on as the second-seeded Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs skated away with the 3-2 win in Game 1 Friday night at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier-City, Louisiana. Winners of five straight postseason games dating back to the 2008 Southern Conference Finals, the Sundogs twice led by a goal in the opening frame but a pair of second-period markers by Bossier-Shreveport's David Rutherford proved to be the difference.
Needing overtime to earn their first postseason victory since the 2008 Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Finals, the Sundogs pulled even at a game apiece in their opening round series against the Mudbugs Saturday night at the CenturyTel Center. The two teams were deadlocked in a 1-1 tie for more than 38 minutes before Luke Erickson tallied his first goal of the playoffs 4:08 into overtime to earn the win.
The series shifts to Arizona and Tim's Toyota Center for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday, April 5 and Wednesday, April 6. Both games are slated for 7:05pm (Arizona time).
If necessary, the teams will return to Bossier City for a deciding Game 5 on Saturday, April 9 at 5:05pm (Arizona time).
Playoff Quick Facts:
All-Time Record: 33 GP (20-13)
All-Time Home Record: 9-5
All-Time Road Record: 11-8
All-Time Overtime Record: 3-1
2011 Playoffs Record: 2 GP (1-1)
Home Record: 0-0
Road Record: 1-1
Overtime: 1-0
Streak: W1
Goals For/Goals Against: 4/4
Power Play: 0/7 (0.0%)
Penalty Kill: 4/8 (50.0%)
Sundogs Storylines:
- Scott Reid ranks sixth in goals against average (1.95) and save percentage (.930) this postseason. Reid is 1-1 in two contests and has allowed just four goals in 123:10 of action.
- Jamie VanderVeeken currently owns a two-game point streak having tallied an assist in each of the Sundogs' first two playoff contests. VanderVeeken is tied for the team lead in plus/minus (+2) with five other players.
- Cam Keith collected a pair of helpers in Arizona's 2-1 overtime win on Saturday night.
- Joey Sides tallied his first career playoff goal and finished plus-2 in a 3-2 loss to the Mudbugs in Game 1 of the best-of-5 conference quarterfinals series.
- Craig Macdonald averaged a point per game in 20 games with Arizona, tallying five goals and 15 assists in 20 games to close out the 2010-11 regular season. Macdonald picked up an unassisted tally in a 3-2 loss to the Mudbugs in Game 1 of the best-of-5 conference quarterfinals series.
- Arizona finished a combined plus-6 in a 3-2 loss to Bossier-Shreveport in Game 1 while the Mudbugs were minus-6 despite earning the win. The Sundogs own a combined plus-11 rating while the Mudbugs are minus-11 through the teams' first two contests.
- Arizona is the only team still playing in the 2011 Playoffs without a power-play goal. The Sundogs are 0-for-7 on the man advantage through their first two games.
- The Sundogs are 20-13 all-time in the CHL postseason. Arizona finished the 2007 CHL Playoffs with a 7-7 mark after falling to the New Mexico Scorpions in Game 7 of the Conference. The Sundogs finished the 2008 Playoffs with a 12-5 mark, winning the Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Championship in the team's second season.
- Fourteen of Arizona's 19 players on the playoff roster have professional playoff experience.
- 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.
Scoring Streaks:
POINTS
VanderVeeken - 2 points (0g/2a) in 2 games
GOALS
ASSISTS
VanderVeeken - 2 assists in 2 games
2011 Playoff Statistical Leaders:
Goals: Sides, Erickson, Schafer, Macdonald (1)
Assists: Keith, VanderVeeken (2)
Points: Keith, VanderVeeken (2)
Plus/Minus: Six players (+2)
Penalty Minutes: Macdonald (7)
Power-Play Goals: n/a
Power-Play Assists: n/a
Shorthanded Goals: n/a
Shorthanded Assists: n/a
Game-Winning Goals: Erickson (1)
2011 Playoff Goaltending Leaders:
Games Played: Reid (2)
Minutes Played: Reid (123)
Wins: Reid (1)
Shutouts: n/a
Goals Against Average: Reid (1.95)
Save Percentage: Reid (.930)
Upcoming Games:
- Tuesday, April 5 (7:05pm) vs. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Tickets start at just $12
- By phone: 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849)
- Online: www.GetTix.net
- Wednesday, April 6 (7:05pm) vs. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Tickets start at just $12
- By phone: 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849)
- Online: www.GetTix.net
- Saturday, April 9 (5:05pm) at Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs - *if necessary
- Radio: KDDL âCattle Country' 94.3FM
- Online: www.cattlecountryradio.com
- TV: http://chltv.neulion.com
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