Sundogs Win Sixth-Straight, Top Thunder 4-2
Published on January 6, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - For the first time in six games, Marco Emond allowed more than one goal against, but the Arizona Sundogs topped the Wichita Thunder 4-2 Tuesday night in the only meeting between the two clubs this season, extending their season-long win streak to six games. With the win, the Sundogs climb back to .500 for just the second time this season at 17-17-1. Karl Sellan recorded his seventh multiple-goal game of the year and now leads the Central Hockey League with 24 tallies on the season.
Arizona jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first period Tuesday night on goals by Andre Selander and Rob Lehtinen. Selander's third of the year came almost seven minutes into the contest from A.J. MacLean and Peter Cartwright for the early 1-0 lead. Lehtinen gave his club a two-goal cushion with six minutes to play in the opening frame on passes from Derek Legault and Martin Gascon, his first of two helpers on the night. Since replacing injured Tyler Liebel at forward, Lehtinen has tallied three goals in four games. Despite the 2-0 advantage, the visiting Sundogs were outshot by the Thunder 9-7 in the first period.
The Sundogs stretched their lead to 3-0 early in the second period as Sellan netted his first of two goals on the night from linemate Mark Kolanos and Gascon, matching his career-high of 23 set during his rookie campaign in 2006-07. Midway through the frame, Thunder Head Coach Brent Bilodeau replaced starting netminder Tim Boron with backup goaltender Krister Toews. Wichita would get on the board five minutes later as Troy Ofukany converted for his club's first of two power play markers on the night. Bryan Nathe and Jordan Hack were credited with assists to close out scoring in the middle frame. Shots were even through two periods at 20 apiece.
With Wichita once again on the power play, Joel Hanson cut the Sundogs' lead to one, beating Emond 7:14 to play in regulation. It would be the first time in six games that Emond would surrender more than one goal. But Sellan would all but secure the victory with an empty net tally from Kolanos with less than 30 seconds remaining for his league-leading 24th goal of the season.
Emond improved to 13-9-1 with his sixth-straight win Tuesday night, allowing two goals on 32 shots. Boron started in net for the Thunder and stopped nine of 12 shots before being replaced by backup netminder Toews who turned aside all 11 shots faced through 30 minutes of play. Arizona was held scoreless on five power play opportunities while Wichita converted on 2-of-4 chances with the man advantage.
Central Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2009
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- Mudbugs Stop RiverKings Win Streak At Four - Mississippi RiverKings
- Sundogs Win Sixth-Straight, Top Thunder 4-2 - Arizona Sundogs
- Thunder Comeback Falls Short - Wichita Thunder
- All-Star Game On-Ice Officials Announced - CHL
- Coaches Show Tonight At Boston's - Rapid City Rush
- Bucks Get Smith Back From AHL - Laredo Bucks
- Tessier Wins Performance of the Week - Wichita Thunder
- Wichita's Jason Tessier Voted Performance of the Week - CHL
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