Sundogs Down Corpus Christi 5-1, Take 2-1 Series Lead
April 5, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs Hockey Club hosted its first home game of the 2007 CHL Playoffs Wednesday night at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Both the Sundogs and visiting Corpus Christi Rayz grabbed wins in the first two contests in the opening round series last week and looked to take a 2-1 series lead. Arizona would tally three first period goals en route to its 5-1 victory and take control of the best-of-seven set, two games to one.
Arizona would continue to be the team to strike first in the series as Brent Kelly would convert on the Sundogs first power play opportunity of the night on passes from Chris Greene and Chris Bartolone at the 7:34 mark. Kelly would one-time the cross-ice Greene feed past Rayz netminder Ron Vogel to give his club an early 1-0 lead. Grabbing the Sundogs' second power play goal of the night, and on his birthday, Karl Sellan would take a pass from Dmitri Leonov raising the puck into the back of the net at 11:15 of the opening period. Chris Greene would grab his second point of the night also collecting an assist on the play. With 41 seconds remaining in the first frame Cory Stillman would give his club a three-goal lead on passes from Ryan Steeves and line mate Kelly. The period's third marker would be the first even strength goal of the game.
In the second period neither team would be able to beat the opposing goaltender. Arizona would dominate the second period as they had done in the first outshooting Corpus Christi 14-3 for a two period 29-7 advantage.
The Sundogs would continue to skate by the Rayz in the third as defenseman Dan Laperriere would collect his second goal of the playoffs at 5:51 of the third period with Max Gordichuk and Dmitri Leonov tallying helpers. Just 29 seconds later Leonov would grab his first goal and third point of the contest on a pass from Steeves giving Arizona a 5-0 cushion. With 6:50 to play in the third, Kevin Watters would end Mike Wall's shutout bid sliding the puck past him and into the back of the net to give his club its first goal of the game. Geno Parrish and Matt Turek assisted on the shutout-ending goal.
Netminder Mike Wall would present an almost perfect outing deflecting 23 of 24 shots on net in the win while Ron Vogel would suffer the loss stopping 35 of 40 shots. The Sundogs would convert on two of six power play chances while holding the Rayz scoreless on four attempts. The two teams face off again in game four of the series at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley Friday night as the Sundogs look to grab win number three. Game time is set for 7:00pm and fans are encouraged to wear white to all home playoff games to show their support. Tickets are available 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.
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- Sundogs Down Corpus Christi 5-1, Take 2-1 Series Lead - Arizona Sundogs
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