Sundogs Snap Eight-Game Winless Streak with Seven-Round Shootout Win

Published on November 17, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - Needing overtime for the third straight game and a shootout for the second time in three contests, the Arizona Sundogs snapped an eight-game winless streak with a 3-2 win over the Bloomington PrairieThunder Wednesday night at US Cellular Coliseum.

Luke Erickson, in his first game with the Sundogs since being acquired in a trade from the Rapid City Rush on November 10, tallied an assist on a Cam Keith second-period goal and earned the eventual game-winner, firing a wrist shot right side past PrairieThunder goaltender Brad Phillips in the shootout's seventh round.

Levente Szuper earned his first win in three starts in a Sundogs uniform, turning aside 40 of 43 shots and six of seven skaters in the shootout.

Arizona held a 2-1 lead late in the contest but Bloomington pulled Phillips in favor of an extra attacker and converted with 16 seconds remaining in regulation. Jason Dale was credited with the late equalizer to force overtime.

Held without a goal in his first 11 games, Keith opened scoring with his first marker of the season 9:35 into the second period to give Arizona a 1-0 lead 31 seconds into its fourth power play of the contest. Stationed at the top of the Bloomington goal crease, Keith knocked home a Tyler Butler rebound, extending the defenseman's point streak to three games.

First-year forward Jason Williams stretched Arizona's lead to two late in the middle frame with his rookie-leading seventh goal of the season, settling a Karl Sellan feed and beating Phillips at the 18:28 mark. Williams nearly picked up his league-leading sixth power-play goal of the year as a Sundogs power play had just come to an end.

Kerry Toddington responded less than a minute later to cut Arizona's lead back to one, sending a slap shot through traffic from the blue line past Szuper with just 45 seconds remaining in the period.

After allowing 11 first-period goals in their first nine games, the Sundogs have held their opponent scoreless in the opening frame in their last three contests.

Arizona finished 1-for-9 with the man advantage while Bloomington converted once on five power-play opportunities.

Kyle Hood also scored for the Sundogs in the shootout, lifting a backhand past Phillips in the second round, while Brian Kaufman was the lone PrairieThunder skater to beat Szuper, slipping a backhand effort beneath the Arizona netminder at the far post in the fifth round.

With the win, the Sundogs (3-7-2) move into seventh place in the Berry Conference, one point ahead of the Tulsa Oilers and Odessa Jackalopes, and sit just two points back of the Mississippi RiverKings and fifth place.

Arizona continues its season-long eight-game road trip Friday at 6:00pm (Arizona time) against the Fort Wayne Komets. Listen to the game live online at www.cattlecountryradio.com or on KDDL 'Cattle Country' 94.3FM, the Official Radio Home of Arizona Sundogs Hockey.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Central Hockey League Stories from November 17, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central