Sundogs win first road game in series, drop Eagles 3-2

Published on November 9, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - The Arizona Sundogs 3-2 win against the Colorado Eagles made history in more ways than one tonight. Not only was it the first time either team had won in the other's building, but the loss gave the Eagles their longest winless streak ever (four games). One thing that did not change in the series is that each game this year has been decided by a single goal.

The first period started ominously for Colorado as they continued to spend too much time in the penalty box (giving Arizona five power plays), but on a shorthanded breakaway, Greg Pankewicz juked and cut across the crease, causing the Sundogs' starting goaltender, Bill Zaniboni, to move quickly from his right to his left. After the puck rolled just wide of the net, the goalie then stayed down on the ice for an extended period and was examined by the Arizona medical staff, but he remained in the game.

But at 12:14, clearly feeling the after-effects of his injury, Zaniboni was replaced by Andrew Gallant. Moments later, Seth Leonard got the Eagles on the board with a highlight-reel goal. After Paul Esdale collected the puck in the left wing corner, he threw a pass toward the slot where Leonard collected it with his forehand. Leonard's momentum spun him around and he was able to swipe the puck into the empty half of the net on the backhand before tumbling onto his back.

Later in the period, the Eagles were two seconds away from killing a 5-on-3 when Sean Sullivan's shot from the point was deflected down low and past Clayton Pool by Mark Kolanos to tie the game at one. Then, just 45 seconds later, killing the ensuing 5-on-4, another Sullivan point-shot was collected down low by Olivier Latendresse and backhanded past a down-and-out Pool to give the Sundogs a 2-1 lead. With time expiring -- literally, converted defenseman, Les Borsheim, spun and fired a shot from the right circle that went over Gallant's left shoulder and into the top corner of the net. However, the green light (indicating the period's end) went on a millisecond before the red light (indicating the goal) and Colorado went to their locker room trailing after the first.

Arizona took a lead into the second, and took the opportunity to sit on it by clogging up the neutral zone; the period saw only nine shots from each team. At 2:22, after a two-team tussle behind the Sundogs' net, Jay Birnie and Jonathan Bernier dropped their gloves for the second time in the game. Although the first fight was more-or-less a draw, the second one was decidedly taken by Birnie. He pummeled Bernier to the ice and then continued to pound him while he sat between Birnie's legs. With the period winding down, Ed McGrane broke in alone on Gallant, who stoned the Eagles' leading scorer with a left leg save against the post. However, the backup goalie remained down for a minute -- surely scaring the Sundogs' bench as starter Bill Zaniboni had already left the game with an injury (Arizona carries only two goalies). Gallant, though, got back up and finished the period.

Gallant remained in net for the third period and made several key saves as the Eagles threw 18 shots (many of them high-quality) his way. But Arizona got an insurance goal at 4:57, when Alex Leavitt skated untouched across the low slot, deked Pool down, and slid the puck past him for a 3-1 lead. It was too little, too late for Colorado when Leonard got his second goal of the game with 2.6 seconds remaining with the goalie pulled.

The Eagles will look to win their 100th home game tomorrow night against the Texas Brahmas.

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Central Hockey League Stories from November 9, 2007


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