Sundogs Tally Five Unanswered to Snap Five-Game Slide in 5-1 Victory

Published on January 2, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs tallied five unanswered goals en route to a 5-1 win over the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees Saturday night at Tim's Toyota Center, snapping a season-long five-game losing streak in the process.

Kyle McNulty picked up his third win of the season turning aside 27 shots as Arizona outshot Rio Grande Valley, 45-28, in the contest.

Rookie forward Joey Sides picked up a pair of goals and an assist in the win while Linus Fagemo, Torren Delforte, Jon Landry and Kyle Hood each collected a pair of points.

The Sundogs held Rio Grande Valley without a shot on net through the game's first eight minutes Saturday but it would be the visiting Killer Bees that would strike first as Topher Scott lifted a rebound chance over a reaching McNulty from the near post late in the opening frame.

Crossing the blue line, Jesse Bennefield stopped at the top of the far circle before sending a shot on net through traffic and eventually onto the stick of Scott at 17:42 of the first period.

From there it would be all Arizona as the Sundogs tallied five unanswered en route to a 5-1 win, snapping a season-long five-game losing streak.

Sides opened scoring for Arizona with his fifth of the year just over a minute after Scott's first-period marker, pulling his club even with 1:06 to play in the opening frame.

Under pressure in the slot, Sides collected a centering feed from Delforte and forced a wrist shot along the ice that fooled Andy Franck, slipping beneath the netminder's left leg pad and across the goal line.

Fagemo gave the Sundogs their first lead since a 4-3 loss to the Odessa Jackalopes on December 27 early in the second from Kevin Gardner.

Set up at the top of the circle, Fagemo fired a slap shot from the top of the circle past Franck 1:48 into the middle frame as the two teams skated 4-on-4.

Arizona nearly stretched its lead to 3-1 while on a power play midway through the period, twice finding posts behind Franck but the score remained 2-1 through 40 minutes of play.

Fagemo netted his second of the game and 11th of the season 3:55 into the third to give his club a 3-1 lead, knocking a Konrad Reeder rebound past Franck at the side of the net.

Delforte's team-leading 14th goal of the year from Sides and Hood 1:43 later over a sprawled-out Franck gave Arizona a three-goal cushion before Sides gathered the game's final tally midway through the third frame from Hood and Landry.

Calling for the puck in the low slot, Hood one-timed a Landry pass to Sides between the circles as the rookie forward notched his sixth of the season, snapping a shot over the glove of Franck.

The Sundogs converted once on six power-play chances while Rio Grande Valley was held scoreless on five man-advantage opportunities.

Arizona closes out a four-game home stand Wednesday, Jan. 6 against the Amarillo Gorillas at 7:05pm. Tickets start at just $14 and are available by phone at 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849), online at www.gettix.net and in person at the Tim's Toyota Center Box Office.

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



Central Hockey League Stories from January 2, 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