Defending CHL champion Sundogs fighting for playoff spot

PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ – After 41 games, the Arizona Sundogs have a 17-21-3 record and at 37 points, are trailing the division and conference leading Odessa Jackalopes by 22 points. With a conference title out of reach and the New Mexico Scorpions on their flank, the Sundogs are fighting for a playoff spot with just 23 games left in the regular season.
 
In a pair of games this past weekend , the Colorado Eagles, who lead the CHL with 65 points, traveled to Arizona and won twice, giving them four straight victories over the Sundogs this season, getting revenge for a four-game sweep that earned Arizona the championship last spring.
 

Now two games into an eight-game home stand, their longest of the season, the Sundogs have suffered six straight losses and their hope of winning the Southern Conference’s fifth and final playoff spot is looking anything but promising.
 
The Sundogs have struggled with consistency all season, unable to put together any meaningful string of victories. Lack of success at Tim’s Toyota Center hasn’t helped their cause. After compiling a 44-18-2 home record through their first two seasons, the Sundogs dropped to 6-10-3 in Prescott Valley this season, including 1-5-1 in the past seven home games.
 
The Sundogs need wins in a hurry to overtake the Corpus Christi Ice Rays, who are one point ahead of Arizona for the conference’s final playoff slot.
 
“Obviously we’ve had a difficult season and not necessarily to what the expectations were,” Head Coach Marco Pietroniro told The Daily Courier. “We’re going to compete all the way to the end. We want to make the playoffs and be a good contender. When you make the playoffs, anything’s possible. So we’re gonna fight…we’re gonna fight all the way to be there.”
 
To help in that fight, Pietroniro has been looking for ways to shore up his defensive unit. On Monday, the Sundogs announced that they had traded forward Martin Gascon to the Tulsa Oilers in exchange for defenseman Jason Lawmaster. Lawmaster, 30, has played in 32 games for the Oilers this season, tallying 17 points (6 G, 11 A) and 88 penalty minutes.
 
“We’ve been playing short, especially at the defensive position, and the acquisition of Jason addresses that need immediately,” Pietroniro added. “We expect him to have an immediate impact with our Club.”
 
With a three-game home stand against the Rocky Mountain Rage about to begin, an immediate impact is what the Sundogs need. As far as Pietroniro is concerned, the fat lady has yet to sing.
  Contact the author at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com