Sundogs Score Late, Top Corpus Christi 6-5 in Overtime
December 20, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs and Corpus Christi Rayz faced off in the lone game in the Central Hockey League Wednesday night at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. More than 4,200 fans in attendance witnessed history as the Sundogs would see their first-ever goalie fight. Mark Kolanos and Alex Leavitt combined for seven points and Chris Bartolone scored with three seconds remaining in the overtime session to lift the Sundogs to a 6-5 win. With the victory, Arizona improves to 8-1-0 at home and 17-6-1 on the season.
The visiting Rayz opened scoring in the first period on their first powerplay chance of the night, a result of a Mark Kolanos high sticking double-minor. Geno Parrish took a pass from Jon Jankus behind the net and squeezed it between Sundogs netminder Bill Zaniboni and the goal post for the 1-0 lead at the 8:17 mark. Forward Jay Latulippe also tallied an assist on the play. Just past the midway point, Arizona answered back as the Kolanos penalty expired. While still on the penalty kill following a Dusty Collins five-minute elbowing major, Alex Leavitt lifted the puck from a Corpus Christi defender and found Kolanos skating in alone for the shorthanded tally at 10:24 of the opening frame. Jeff Winchester also collected an assist on the play. Corpus Christi regained a one-goal lead with 6:35 to play in the period as Parrish shelfed the puck over a sprawling Zaniboni. Latulippe and Joe Blaznek collected assists on the Rayz second man advantage marker of the game. The Sundogs pulled even for the second time as Kolanos gathered his second of the game at with three minutes to play in the first. Leavitt assisted on the powerplay goal for his second helper of the evening.
Arizona grabbed its first lead of the game as defenseman Sean Sullivan notched his club's first even-strength tally of the night on passes from Leavitt and Kolanos at 10:28 of the middle period. Six-and-a-half minutes later, Jason Visser pushed the score to 4-2 as he found the back of the net past Rayz netminder Jason Tapp for his third goal of the season. Kolanos registered his fourth point of the night assisting on the play with defenseman David Schlemko. The Rayz fought back to pull within one just 21 seconds later as Latulippe scored his fourth of the year from A.J. Bozoian. With 2:14 to play in the second and following a scrum in front of the Corpus Christi net, both clubs spilled into a full line brawl, including both goalies. A ten-minute delay ensued following the altercations as the officials worked to sort out the penalties. A resulting 86 penalty minutes were handed out among both squads. Just before the period came to a close, Corpus Christi pulled even at 4-4 as Chris Shaffer fired a rebound past replacement netminder Andrew Gallant. Brent Howarth and Evan Stoflet were credited with assists on the late-period goal.
The two clubs played disciplined, even keeled hockey in the third but with 6:24 to play in the third, the Rayz took advantage of confusion among the Arizona Sundogs in their own zone and capitalized as Kevin Watters collected a Shaffer pass at the top of the circles and fired a wrist shot past Gallant for a 5-4 lead. With 1:30 remaining and Arizona on its sixth powerplay of the night, Sullivan and Karl Sellan paired up to find Olivier Latendresse, forcing the overtime session.
In overtime, Chris Bartolone gathered his club's fourth powerplay goal of the night for the 6-5 win. Latendresse and Schlemko assisted on the game-winning goal with just three seconds to play.
Sundogs netminder Bill Zaniboni started in net for Arizona and made 16 saves on 19 shots prior to being escorted to the locker room following his fight with Rayz netminder Jason Tapp. Andrew Gallant was credited with the win, stopping six of eight shots in 27 minutes of play. Tapp blocked 20 of 24 shots in his time in net for Corpus Christi while former Sundog Kevin Couture took the overtime loss with 16 saves on 18 shots. The Sundogs and the CHL's top powerplay finished 4-for-7 with the man advantage while the Rayz converted on 2 of 8 powerplay chances. Arizona outshot the Rayz by a 42-27 mark.
With the win, Arizona improves to 17-6-1 on the season and holds a five-point advantage over second place Odessa in the Southwest Division. The Sundogs next take on the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on Friday at Tim's Toyota Center. Game time is set for 7:35pm. 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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