Sundogs Struggles Continue, Lose 5-3 to Laredo

December 5, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - Looking to snap a four-game skid, the Arizona Sundogs skated in Game 3 of their season-long seven-game road trip on Friday night against the Laredo Bucks at the Laredo Entertainment Center in Southern Texas. Forwards Jeff Bes and Darryl Smith combined for eight points to hand Arizona their third-straight road loss and fifth overall. Mark Kolanos returned to the lineup and extended his goal scoring streak to five games with a third period tally. Rookie Adam Perry was held scoreless for the first time since joining the Sundogs, snapping an eight-game point streak.

The duo of Bes and Smith combined for an even-strength and shorthanded tally in the first period Friday night to give their club a 2-0 cushion through the first 20 minutes of play. Bes opened scoring at the 12:11 mark with his sixth goal of the season from Smith and Rick Kozak. With less than three minutes to play in the first, Smith opened a two-goal lead for Laredo 22 seconds into an Arizona power play, knocking a Bes centering feed past Sundogs rookie netminder Joel Gistedt for his second point of the night. The Bucks held a 10-8 advantage in shots in the opening frame.

Laredo took a commanding 4-0 lead less than two minutes into the second period before Arizona got on the board with a shorthanded effort from leading scorer Joel Irving. The Bucks' Joey Olson collected an Alex Goupil pass and converted for his second goal of the season just 29 seconds in to give his club a three-goal lead. Smith followed with his second goal and third point of the night 42 seconds later with an unassisted marker. With Adam Perry in the box for tripping, Irving got his club on the board with his 14th goal of the year from Tyler Liebel. Regaining a four-goal lead just past the period's midway point, Bes registered his second goal and third point of the contest from Kozak and Smith, their second and fourth points on the night. Laredo outshot Arizona by a 15-10 mark in the middle frame for a two-period 25-18 advantage.

Kolanos pulled his club to within three at the 6:14 mark, banging a rebound past Laredo netminder Sebastien Centomo four seconds after a Kozak roughing penalty expired. Defenseman Henrik Ivarsson was credited with an assist on the play, sending the initial shot on net. With less than five minutes remaining in regulation, former teammates Liebel and Goupil squared off and exchanged blows before being sent off the off the ice. The two were teammates in Wichita last season before being dealt to their current teams. Kolanos grabbed his second point of the period with an assist as Martin Gascon made it 5-3 with 3:07 to play. Gascon settled the pass and skated down the near boards before lifting a shot over Centomo for the game's final tally.

Gistedt fell to 3-7-0 on the year, turning aside 29 of 34 shots in the loss while Centomo grabbed his eighth win on the season, stopping 22 of 25 shots. Arizona was held scoreless on the power play for the first time in 12 games, finishing 0-for-4 with the man advantage Friday night. The Bucks were also unable to convert on three power play opportunities.

The Sundogs skate in their fourth game in five nights tomorrow against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees at Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas. Game time is set for 6:35pm (Arizona time) and can be heard live on 96.7 FM The Wolf, the Official Broadcast Home of the Arizona Sundogs.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 5, 2008


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