Sundogs Top Scorpions 5-4 in Overtime, Increase Lead in Division to Four Points
March 12, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - Southwest Division foes the Arizona Sundogs and New Mexico Scorpions squared off in a critical divisional matchup Tuesday night at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Coming into the game, just three points separated first place Arizona from second place clubs New Mexico and Odessa. CHL leading scorer Alex Leavitt collected one goal and two assists Tuesday night. With a primary assist added by the Central Hockey League from the Sundogs game against the New Mexico Scorpions on Feb. 29, Leavitt now has 107 points (34g/73a) on the season and a seven-point cushion over Laredo's Jeff Bes for the CHL scoring title.
The visiting Scorpions grabbed the first lead of the game 3:13 into the opening period as Ray Ortiz collected passes from Kevin Harvey and Blair Stayzer and gained the offensive zone before beating Sundogs netminder Marco Emond with a wrist shot on the far post for his eighth goal of the year. Arizona pulled even at the 11:15 mark on their first powerplay chance of the night. CHL leading scorer Alex Leavitt fired a snap shot from the low circle past Scorpions goaltender Andrew Martin for his 34th tally of the season. Defensive partners Dan Laperriere and David Schlemko collected assists on the early game-tying goal. The Sundogs took their first lead of the game just 30 seconds later as rookie forward Mark Kolanos notched his 28th goal of the season, unassisted. The Sundogs held a slight advantage in shots through the first 20 minutes Tuesday night, outshooting New Mexico by a 12-10 mark.
The two teams would carry a 2-2 tie into the second intermission as New Mexico would tally the second period's lone goal. Just 1:29 into the middle stanza, the Scorpions' Konrad Reeder found the back of the net on passes from Erik Johnson and Ross McCain for his 33rd marker of the season. After being outshot in the first period, New Mexico rebounded to outshoot Arizona by a 15-9 mark in the second frame for a two-period 25-2 advantage.
The Scorpions used an early tally in the third period to regain a one-goal lead as Marco Emond was unable to control a Kevin Harvey shot as it snuck through his pads as he was falling backwards. The unassisted marker was Harvey's second point of the game, coming just 1:48 into the third period. Reeder used his second goal of the game to give his club its biggest lead of the game just shy of six minutes into the period. Craig Macdonald gathered an assist on the play for his 30th helper of the season. At the 9:22 mark and while on a four-minute man advantage following a Aaron MacInnis high sticking penalty, Cory Urquhart gathered a pass from Leavitt and skated past the New Mexico defense before beating Martin stick side with a wrist shot for his ninth goal in ten games with Arizona. Laperriere also collected an assist on the play for his second of the game to pull the Sundogs back to within one. With 6:09 to play, Chris Bartolone notched his 16th goal of the season with a laser from the just inside the blue line to tie the game at four goals apiece. Leavitt assisted on the play for his second assist and third point of the game to force an overtime session.
In the extra frame, Tyler Liebel received passes from Jason Visser and Laperriere and lifted a backhand shot over Martin 1:45 in to secure the Sundogs' 5-4 victory. With the win, Arizona opens a four point advantage over second place New Mexico and a five point cushion over third place Odessa.
Marco Emond appeared in net for the Sundogs and stopped 34 of 38 shots to improve to 17-6-0 on the season and 4-3-0 since joining the Arizona club. Andrew Martin was between the pipes for New Mexico and blocked 27 of 32 shots in the loss. The Sundogs converted on 2-of-7 chances with the man advantage while holding New Mexico scoreless on five powerplay chances.
Arizona next takes on the Amarillo Gorillas on Friday night at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Game time is set for 7:05pm. Tickets 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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