McVicar McVicar McVicar McVicar

McVicar Stops 51 to Help Sundogs to Commanding 3-0 Series Lead
05/07/2008 9:21 PM

LOVELAND, Colo. – The Arizona Sundogs and Colorado Eagles played in Game 3 of their best-of-7 President’s Cup Finals series at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado on Wednesday night, the first of a possible three contests at the Eagles’ arena. Arizona carried a 2-0 series lead coming into the game and used outstanding goaltending by Rob McVicar and a hat trick by Mark Kolanos to top the Colorado club 5-2 in Game 3, taking a commanding three-games-to-none lead in the series. With the win, McVicar improves to 10-1 in the postseason.



Most of the first period would pass in Wednesday night’s tilt before the 0-0 tie would be broken. It would be Arizona to strike first in the game, taking a 1-0 lead as Jason Visser collected his fourth goal of the postseason at the 16:14 mark, knocking the puck past Colorado goaltender Sebastien Laplante. Tyler Liebel and Dusty Collins each assisted on the play for their fourth helpers of the playoffs. The lead was short lived as the Eagles pulled even 28 seconds later with Ryan Tobler’s fourth of the postseason. Linemates Riley Nelson and Greg Pankewicz helped on the play to tie the game at one goal apiece. Colorado outshot Arizona 18-11 in the first 20 minutes of play.



Both teams continued to collect quality scoring chances in the middle frame but Sundogs forward Mark Kolanos would be the lone player to find the back of the net to give his club a 2-1 lead going into the third period. In an effort to gain the offensive zone, Dusty Collins misplayed a dump in allowing for Tyler Redenbach to take the body on the Eagles defenseman while the puck was left at their feet. Kolanos fired a one-time slap shot low past the outstretched leg of Laplante for his fourth tally of the postseason. Kolanos nearly grabbed his second of the game late in the period, ringing a wrist shot off the crossbar and into the protective netting high above the glass. Colorado outshot Arizona for the second consecutive frame for a two-period 29-20 advantage.



Kolanos gave the Sundogs a two-goal cushion just under six minutes into the final period with his second of the game from David Schlemko and Redenbach. While on the power play, Schlemko skated to the center of the blue line before sending a wrist shot on net. Kolanos was left unattended and lifted the rebound over Laplante for a 3-1 Arizona lead. The duo of Alex Leavitt and Cory Urquhart teamed up to push the score to 4-1 at the 10:06 mark. Skating in 3-on-1 with linemate Visser, Urquhart dropped a pass to a trailing Leavitt who sent a wrist shot along the ice and through the legs of Laplante for his eighth goal of the postseason. Colorado pulled back to within two goals at 16:52 of the third as Tobler grabbed his second of the game from partners Pankewicz and Nelson but the goal would be overshadowed by Kolanos’ third of the game 63 seconds later, securing the Sundogs’ 5-2 win.



Rob McVicar blocked 51 of 53 shots in the game including 23 in the final period to improve to 10-1 in the postseason. Opposite McVicar, Laplante stopped 25 of 30 shots in the loss. Arizona collected the contest’s lone power play marker, finishing 1-for-6 with the man advantage while holding Colorado scoreless on six chances. With the win, the Sundogs take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the defending champion Colorado Eagles.



Game 4 of the best-of-7 set is scheduled for Friday at 6:05pm (Arizona time) at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland. The game can be heard live on 96.7 FM The Wolf, the Official Broadcast Home of the Arizona Sundogs.

He is the man, he has been on fire in the playoffs. Aside from Game 6 vs. the Bucks, he has been nearly perfect.

that serves Mr Emond right........ didnt want to report to wichita where he would have most likely been the starter to go to a contending team to get splinters in his ass riding the pine. Good luck with that Emond.

But he is in the finals

cockroach wrote:

But he is in the finals

true..... but "I" could be in the finals too if they just put me on the team and let me sit on the bench.

Have to give Emond a tiny bit of credit, he has won 1 playoff game this year.

AZ up two - zip in the first....
Hope ES dont do something stupid if AZ SWEEPS CO

Pucked Up Fan wrote:

AZ up two - zip in the first.... Hope ES dont do something stupid if AZ SWEEPS CO

Like post on the GR?

Al?

RLR

GO SUNDOGS, How sweet it is