Arizona Konixx Outcasts Eliminate Defending Champions, Advance to PIHA Pro West Division Final

📅 Date: March 7-8, 2025
📍 Venue: Pepsi Roller Sports Arena
🔢 Final Score (Game 1): Arizona Konixx Outcasts 6, Denver Demon Dogs 1
🔢 Final Score (Game 2, OT): Arizona Konixx Outcasts 4, Denver Demon Dogs 3

Series Recap

The Arizona Konixx Outcasts delivered a statement in their PIHA Pro West Division Semi-Finals, sweeping the defending Western Conference champion Denver Demon Dogs in two games.

Game 1 was all Outcasts, as they overwhelmed the Demon Dogs with five first-period goals en route to a 6-1 victory. Denver struggled with a depleted roster due to severe winter storms, missing key players including former league scoring champion Jake Townsend and starting goaltender Jon Joy.

Game 2 saw the Demon Dogs put up a much stronger fight, forcing overtime, but a clutch power-play goal by Paul Boutoussov sealed the 4-3 series-clinching win for Arizona.

The Outcasts now move on to the PIHA Pro West Division Final, where they will face the winner of Game 3 between the Naples Labeda Kaos and Colorado Springs Thunder.

Game 1 Highlights (Arizona 6, Denver 1)

1st Period:

✅ 09:41 – Denver Goal (1-0): Michael Ellis opened the scoring for the Demon Dogs.
✅ 08:15 – Arizona Goal (1-1): Mikey Boutoussov tied it up, setting the tone for the Outcasts' offense.
✅ 06:17 – Arizona Goal (2-1): Tanner Tuohy gave Arizona the lead, assisted by Parker Eliot.
✅ 04:41 – Arizona Goal (3-1): Travis Meyer extended the Outcasts' lead with help from Boutoussov and Paul Boutoussov.
✅ 00:12 – Arizona Goal (4-1, PP): Paul Linder buried a power-play goal off a Kyle Mooney setup.
✅ 00:06 – Arizona Goal (5-1): Paul Boutoussov struck again just six seconds later, essentially putting the game out of reach.

🔥 Outcasts Dominate: Five first-period goals proved too much for the short-handed Demon Dogs.

2nd Period:

✅ 00:55 – Arizona Goal (6-1): Tanner Tuohy notched his second of the game to cap off the dominant performance.

🛑 Goaltending Performance:
🏆 Aaron Gittings (Arizona) – 12 saves on 13 shots
💪 Cam Shoup & Evan Padfield (Denver) – 20 saves on 26 shots

📌 Final Shots on Goal: Arizona 26 – Denver 13

Game 2 Highlights (Arizona 4, Denver 3, OT)

1st Period:

✅ 04:51 – Denver Goal (1-0): Jake Townsend returned to the lineup and wasted no time, scoring the opener.
✅ 00:49 – Denver Goal (2-0): Townsend struck again, giving the Demon Dogs early momentum.
✅ 00:16 – Arizona Goal (2-1): Kyle Mooney responded to get the Outcasts on the board just before the period ended.

🔥 Demon Dogs Fight Back: With key players back, Denver played its best period of the series.

2nd Period:

✅ 06:23 – Denver Goal (3-1): Kyle Phelps restored the two-goal lead for the Dogs.
✅ 01:54 – Arizona Goal (3-2): Paul Boutoussov cut the deficit to one.
✅ 01:09 – Arizona Goal (3-3): Boutoussov struck again, tying the game and sending it to overtime.

🚨 Momentum Shift: The Outcasts outshot the Demon Dogs 9-2 in the second period, controlling possession and setting the stage for an overtime finish.

Overtime:

✅ 10:06 – Arizona Goal (4-3, GWG, PP): Paul Boutoussov completed his hat trick, scoring the power-play goal that eliminated Denver.

🛑 Goaltending Performance:
🏆 Aaron Gittings (Arizona) – 10 saves on 13 shots
💪 Jon Joy (Denver) – 13 saves on 17 shots

📌 Final Shots on Goal: Arizona 17 – Denver 13

Series Takeaways:

🔥 Outcasts Offense is Dangerous: Arizona scored 10 goals in two games, with Paul Boutoussov leading the way with a hat trick in Game 2.
💪 Demon Dogs Missed Key Players in Game 1: Missing Townsend and Joy in Game 1 proved costly.
🔄 Clutch Power Play: Arizona’s series-winning goal came on the power play, showing their ability to capitalize on crucial opportunities.

🏆 What’s Next?

With the sweep, the Arizona Konixx Outcasts advance to the PIHA Pro West Division Final, where they will face the winner of Game 3 between Naples Labeda Kaos and Colorado Springs Thunder.

📅 Next Game:March 9, 2025 – PIHA Pro West Division Final

Will the Outcasts continue their run, or will their next opponent be able to stop them? Stay tuned! 🔥🏒