Sundogs Unload for Five in Third for 5-1 Victory

Published on March 15, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs kicked off their final six games of the CHL 2006-07 regular season Wednesday night against the Lubbock Cotton Kings. The Sundogs are currently battling with Amarillo Gorillas and New Mexico Scorpions at the top of the Southwest Division while Lubbock is in a chase for the final Southern Conference playoff spot. After two scoreless periods, Arizona would unload for five in the third grabbing a 5-1 win.

Both teams would collect scoring chances in the first period but both goalies would be up to the challenge, each deflecting the opposing team's shots. Sundogs netminder Mike Wall would stop eight shots while Lubbock goaltender Kyle Stanton would turn away 10 Arizona chances. Jonathan Bernier would see his third fight in as many games as he and Paul McBrien would trade punches.

The second period would look much like the first as the Sundogs and Cotton Kings would skate to a 0-0 tie as neither club would be able to tally the first goal of the night. Arizona would outshoot Lubbock for the second straight period by a 10-6 tally to push the two period shot total to 20-14.

After two periods of scoreless hockey, the Sundogs' Cory Stillman would grab the first goal of the game just 38 seconds into the third period on passes from linemates Brent Kelly and Dmitri Leonov. The Sundogs would increase their lead to 2-0 at the 4:28 mark as Ladislav Kouba would find the back of the net. David Svagrovsky and Chris Greene would assist on the play. At 8:05 of the third Stillman would grab his second goal of the night on a drop pass from Leonov one-timing it past the glove of Stanton. A little more than a minute later Lubbock would grab its first point of the contest as the puck trickled in behind Wall. The Cotton Kings' Jonathan Hobson would be credited with the goal with an assist going to Patrick Levesque, ending Mike Wall's shutout streak at 144:13. With 5:14 remaining in the third period defenseman Dan Laperriere would rip a slap shot from the point regaining the Sundogs' three-goal lead. Kelly and Kouba would assist on the power play goal. Less than a minute later Arizona would push the score to 5-1 on a goal from Brad Mehalko. The goal would be Mehalko's first as a Sundog with assists going to Leonov and Karl Sellan to cap off the scoring.

Arizona would outshoot Lubbock 29-22 with Mike Wall stopping 21 shots in the 5-1 win and Kyle Stanton deflecting 24 shots in the loss. The Sundogs finished 1-for-4 on the power play while holding Lubbock scoreless on four chances with the man advantage. With the win Arizona moves solely into second place in the Southwest Division and fourth in the Southern Conference playoff race, four points behind division-leading New Mexico.

The Sundogs next take on the Corpus Christi Rayz on Friday and Saturday at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. On Friday the Sundogs play host to the NFL Arizona Cardinals. Cardinals' players and cheerleaders will be on hand to sing autographs and giveaway team merchandise. On Saturday evening the Sundogs will wear special St. Patrick's Day-themed jerseys to raise money for the Arizona Sundogs Foundation. During the second intermission the Sundogs will make the biggest donation in franchise history to six local charities. Tickets are available to both games by calling 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849), visiting www.gettix.net or stopping by the Tim's Toyota Center Box Office. Catch all the Sundogs action live on 96.7 FM The Wolf, the Official Broadcast Home of the Arizona Sundogs.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2007


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