SUNDOGS EARN POINTS IN THIRD STRAIGHT GAME, TOP KILLER BEES, 4-2

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. – Looking for his and his club’s second win on the year, J.F. Perras turned in a 47-save performance as the Arizona Sundogs topped the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees by a 4-2 mark Friday night at Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas. Defenseman Matt Hanson led the Sundogs with a two-goal, three-point effort in the win while Torren Delforte extended his current point streak to five games.

The Sundogs and Killer Bees combined for five goals in the opening period of play Friday but Arizona’s first shorthanded tally of the year proved to be the difference maker late in the frame.

Shorthanded following a Joey Sides hooking penalty, Kevin Gardner raced to a Hanson clearing attempt that slowed inside the neutral and out-maneuvered a Killer Bees defenseman and netminder Andy Franck, pulling the puck to his forehand and sliding it around Franck’s outstretched leg with a minute and a half remaining in the period.

Rio Grande Valley opened scoring just over four minutes into the contest as Grant Goeckner-Zoeller grabbed his first of two goals in the opening period, sending the puck off the back of goaltender Perras for the early 1-0 lead. Delforte responded for the Sundogs 51 seconds later with a low wrist shot past the glove of Franck for his third of the season from Phoenix native Mike Nesdill.

Already with a goal in the game, Delforte notched his third assist on the year with a centering feed to Hanson alone between the circles at the 12:41 mark for a Sundogs 2-1 lead. In his first pro game after signing with Arizona on Thursday, the rookie Sides collected his first point as a pro on the play with the initial pass out of the corner to Delforte.

The trio of Goeckner-Zoeller, Jesse Bennefield and Shaun Landolt struck again 1:06 later with their club on its second power play opportunity of the period. Bennefield snuck a pass through the crease backdoor to Goeckner-Zoeller for the equalizer with just over six minutes to play in the first period.

Hanson added his second goal and third point of the game with an unassisted effort just 54 seconds into the final period on what proved to be the game’s final tally. Gaining the offensive zone, Hanson split the Rio Grande Valley defense and sent a shot along the ice, beating Franck five-hole.

Perras got his third start in net for Arizona and turned aside 47 of 49 shots to improve to 2-1-0 on the year while Franck allowed four goals on 29 shots absorbing the loss. The Sundogs were held scoreless on five man advantage opportunities Friday night while the Killer Bees converted just once on eight power play chances.

Arizona (2-3-1) has now collected points in three straight games dating back to its first win of the year against the Rapid City Rush on Oct. 23.