Sundogs' Three-Goal Second Period Deals Eagles Rare Home Loss, 4-3

February 12, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - Coming off three straight one-goal losses and looking for their first win at the Budweiser Events Center since November 2007, the Arizona Sundogs snapped an 11-game winless streak against the Colorado Eagles, handing the Northern Conference club a rare home loss, 4-3, on the strength of a three-goal second period Friday night in Loveland, Colorado.

The Sundogs outscored the Eagles 3-1 in the middle frame on three shots high glove side over Colorado netminder Andrew Penner.

Rookie defenseman Nick Biondo opened scoring in the middle frame with his first professional goal from Konrad Reeder and Linus Fagemo, beating Penner with a wrist shot from the top of the far circle 5:48 into the second.

Andrew Winnik stretched Arizona's lead to 3-1 with his second of the year just over a minute later, connecting on a wrist shot from the top of the near circle after a Steve Potvin drop pass at the top of the offensive zone. Marc Belanger also assisted on the play, extending his scoring streak to a team season-high 11 games.

Jim Jackson cut the Eagles' deficit back to one with his 10th of the year midway through the period as the two teams skated 4-on-4.

Activated earlier in the day from the 14-day I.R., Torren Delforte picked up his 17th goal of the season on a snap shot from the slot after a Colorado turnover along the glass deep in its own zone to make the score 4-2 in favor of the visiting Sundogs.

The Sundogs tested Penner early in the contest rattling off six straight shots before Kevin Gardner staked his club to an early 1-0 lead just over eight minutes into the first period. Collecting a Reeder pass behind the net at the near post, Gardner pulled the puck across the end line and tucked it past Penner for his 15th goal and 40th point on the year.

Ryan Tobler evened the score at one late in the first converting on a Riley Nelson feed as the two skated in 2-on-1 after a Sundogs player fanned on a shot at the opposite end.

Aaron Schneekloth was credited with his 20th goal of the season with less than a second showing on the clock closing out scoring in the contest and stretching Arizona's streak of consecutive one-goal games to eight.

Arizona improves to 15-0-2 when leading after two periods of play this season.

The Eagles outshot the Sundogs 42-25 in the game. Doug Groenestege finished with 39 saves to earn the win while Penner turned aside 21 shots in the loss. Neither team was able to score on the power play, each club finishing 0-for-3.

Arizona (16-26-5) remains 10 points back of the Corpus Christi IceRays and the Southern Conference's fifth and final playoff spot and continues a three-game road trip tomorrow at 6:05pm (Arizona time) against the Wichita Thunder. Listen to the game live on KDDL ‘Cattle Country' 94.3FM, the Official Radio Home of Arizona Sundogs Hockey, and online at www.cattlecountryradio.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from February 12, 2010


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