2/4/2013 6:52:00 AM
Sundogs respond after Lohrei's departure; edge first-place Americans
While in Allen, Arizona also picks up new forward
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Kimberly Sauer/Allen Americans, Courtesy
Team captain and interim coach Jason Morgan (17) splits Americans defenders Friday night in Allen, Texas, during the Sundogs’ 2-1 win. |
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Only two days removed from coach David Lohrei's resignation, the Arizona Sundogs had the unenviable task of facing the Central Hockey League's first-place Allen Americans Friday in Texas.
However, in captain Jason Morgan's debut as interim coach, the Sundogs responded well, coming from behind in the third period to knock off the Americans, 2-1, at the Allen Event Center.
With the win, the Sundogs are back at .500 with a 20-20-4 overall record (44 points) and remained in the lead for the CHL's eighth and final playoff spot. The ninth-place Quad City (Ill.) Mallards (18-18-5), who were idle Friday, stayed three points behind Arizona with 41.
Allen, whose record dropped to 25-9-6 (56 points), has now lost eight of its last nine games, including four in overtime. On the other hand, the Sundogs have won three out of their last four meetings against the Americans.
After the game, Arizona management announced that the franchise had acquired forward Kip Brennan from the Americans in exchange for future considerations.
Brennan, a 32-year-old Kingston, Ontario, native, has collected four goals, two assists and a whopping 114 penalty minutes in only 30 games with Allen this season.
"We are very eager to add Kip Brennan to our team," Sundogs general manager Chris Presson said in a news release. "He is a very physical player, and he will help add that depth that we are looking for."
On Friday, the Americans skated to a 1-0 lead 16 minutes into the first period on a goal from forward Jamie Schaafsma via teammate Brian McMillin.
Arizona struggled offensively, but its defense pulled through, limiting the hosts to just 17 shots on the night.
In the meantime, the Sundogs, who had 25 total shots, clawed back and evened the score at 1-1 8:31 into the second period when forward Ron Meyers of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, scored his eighth goal in 29 games with Arizona. He received helpers from Derek LeBlanc and Matt Register.
Arizona forward Kevin Petovello of Sparwood, British Columbia, came through in the clutch with the go-ahead goal less than five minutes into the third period. Up 2-1, the Sundogs held on in the final 15 minutes against one of the league's highest-scoring teams.
The Sundogs return to the ice at 6:05 Saturday night when they visit the third-place Fort Worth (Texas) Brahmas (24-14-5, 53 points), who own the CHL's best home record at 16-3-5.
On Friday, the host Brahmas lost to the Rapid City (S.D.) Rush, 3-2, in overtime.
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