NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Three Goals in Four-Minute Span Lift 'Dogs to 5-3 Win Over Killer Bees

January 7, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL) - Arizona Sundogs News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - Trailing 3-2 with less than five minutes to play, the Arizona Sundogs exploded for three goals in a 4:31 span Friday night at Tim's Toyota Center to secure their fourth win in five contests against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees this season.

Luke Erickson stretched his point streak to a team season-high eight games with a goal and an assist while Cam Keith extended his respective scoring streak with an assist in the win, having now collected at least a point in seven consecutive contests.

Down a goal with five minutes to play in the final frame, Tyler Butler tied the game at three at the 15:03 mark, stuffing an Erickson backdoor feed past Juliano Pagliero at the far post.

Rookie Jason Williams recorded his 11th of the season and the eventual game winner less than a minute later, slipping a loose puck beneath Pagliero for a 4-3 lead.

Kyle Hood's second point of the contest and seventh goal of the season with 1:16 remaining in regulation sealed the win. With Joey Sides screening the Rio Grande Valley netminder at the top of the goal mouth, Hood skated across the top of the circle and sent a shot on net that Pagliero failed to see.

Killer Bees leading scorer Tomas Klempa staked his club to an early 1-0 lead with his 15th of the season, one-timing a Brett Wilson setup feed past Doug Groenestege just 2:36 into the contest. Circling behind the Sundogs' net, Wilson sent a pass to Klempa in the slot from the side of the cage for his fourth assist of the year.

Shots were 7-1 in favor of the 'Bees early in the first period but Arizona picked up its pace of play, outshooting Rio Grande Valley, 12-6, in the second half of the opening frame.

Erickson's 19th of the year tied the game at one with two and a half minutes to play in the first. Williams forced a turnover along the far boards allowing Erickson an uncontested slap shot from the high slot.

Continuing to apply pressure established late in the first period, Arizona grabbed a 2-1 lead near the halfway point of the middle frame on Sides' 13th of the year. Skating through the slot, Sides clanked a Jason Visser wrist shot off the cross bar and inside the left post with 9:18 to play in the second period.

Rio Grande Valley tied the game at two with 4:31 to play in the second on Zak McClellan's fifth goal in as many games. Battling for position in front, McClellan got his stick on a Jake Obermeyer shot from the top of the left circle, redirecting the attempt over the glove of Groenestege.

Nick Sucharski reclaimed a one-goal lead for the Killer Bees 5:19 into the third period. Trailing the play, Sucharski pushed a loose puck Groenestege thought he had covered up across the goal for his second point of the game.

The Sundogs were held without a power-play goal for the first time in six games, finishing 0-for-8 with the man advantage. The Killer Bees' power play converted once on five opportunities.

Groenestege turned aside 29 of 32 shots to improve to 5-6-1 on the year while Pagliero suffered his 13th loss of the season, making 37 saves.

Arizona (14-15-4) closes out its six-game homestand tomorrow night at 7:05pm (Arizona time) against Rio Grande Valley (14-18-3). 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.

• Discuss this story on the Central Hockey League message board...

Central Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Arizona Sundogs Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central