Sundogs Top RiverKings, 4-1, in First-Ever Meeting
March 2, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL) - Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs snapped a five-game winless streak and earned their third straight win at home Wednesday night at Tim's Toyota Center, topping the visiting Mississippi RiverKings by a 4-1 mark in the first-ever meeting between the two franchises.
With the win, Arizona maintains its hold on the Berry Conference's eighth and final playoff spot, two points ahead of the Laredo Bucks.
Kyle Hood extended his point streak to six games with a pair of helpers in the victory, including his league-leading 30th power-play assist of the season on Luke Erickson's two-man advantage marker with 5:51 remaining in the contest.
Levente Szuper finished with 27 saves to earn his 14th victory of the season, making key stops late in the opening frame with Mississippi on the man advantage.
Tallying his third goal in four games since returning from injured reserve, Mark Kolanos broke a scoreless tie six and a half minutes into the second period with a tough angle shot from along the goal line, rolling a shot up the left arm of Larry Sterling and inside the near post.
Jason Visser stretched Arizona's lead to two with a power-play goal at the 11:59 mark, backhanding a rebound past Sterling from the top of the goal crease after the netminder was unable to corral a Tyler Butler one-time shot from just inside the blue line.
Matt Summers responded with a power-play goal for Mississippi less than 30 seconds later to cut the Sundogs' lead back to one, stabbing at a loose puck at the right post as Szuper attempted to poke-check the puck into the far corner but Joey Sides reclaimed a two-goal cushion with 4:18 to play in the middle frame.
Skating below the near dot, Sides collected his 23rd goal of the season with a quick wrist shot beneath the cross bar. Craig Macdonald picked up his second assist of the frame on the play.
Arizona outshot Mississippi 43-19 through the final two periods. Shots were 9-6 in favor of the RiverKings after 20 minutes of play. Sterling finished with 45 saves in the loss.
The Sundogs have earned points in four straight games, going 1-0-4 in that span.
The two teams face off again Friday at 7:05pm (Arizona time) at Tim's Toyota Center. Tickets start at just $12 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.
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Central Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2011
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