RoadRunners Silence Thunder 4-3
December 11, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release
Stockton, Calif. - Captain Dean Tiltgen scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal with 3:41 remaining in regulation to break a 3-3 tie and lift the Phoenix RoadRunners to a 4-3 win over the Stockton Thunder and a split in their two-game weekend series before 5,910 at the Stockton Arena in ECHL action Sunday.
For a second straight game, Mike Lalonde opened the scoring for Stockton, collecting his own rebound at the side of the cage and poking the puck through goaltender Mathieu Chouinard just 2:48 into the first period for a 1-0 lead. The RoadRunners didn't wait long to counter. Mark Wires hit J-F Soucy with a cross-ice pass along the right-wing boards, and Soucy cut back to the slot before slipping a backhand shot by Thunder goaltender Jeff Weber at 5:36 to tie the game at 1-1.
Phoenix took their first lead of the game at 6:05 of the second period. With the RoadRunners' penalty on Peter Trovato just expiring, Jason Deskins fed Trovato a pass behind the defense and Trovato tucked a backhand shot past Weber to give Phoenix a 2-1 lead. Jake Riddle extended the lead to 3-1 at 15:16 of the second. Riddle charged the cage with the defense collapsing in front of him, deked Weber to the ice, and lifted a slap shot to the upper right corner of the net.
Stockton would strike back with a pair of power play goals in the third period. Nathan Martz brought the Thunder back to within a goal at 3-2 when his second-effort shot squeaked through past Chouinard at 13:12 of the period. Lalonde netted the equalizer at 16:19 when he curled out to the right-wing circle and beat Chouinard with a shot along the ice that slipped though the goaltender's pads to tie the game at 3-3. Yet the RoadRunners would have the final say as Deskins on a rush up the ice pushed the puck in the direction of Weber and Tiltgen re-directed it past the goaltender for the game-winner at 16:19.
Stockton out-shot Phoenix 37-20. Chouinard stopped 34 shots to improve to 4-3-0 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-6 on the power play.
Notes: Tiltgen's goal gave him 393 career points...Chouinard made his first start since November 26 against Long Beach and collected his first win since October 29 against San Diego...Stockton's three power play goals equaled a season-high.
Hey RoadRunners' fans, do you want to own a piece of history? The commemorative throwback 1977-78 jerseys the RoadRunners wore for the November 26th game against Long Beach are now available for purchase through a special online auction that can be accessed at www.phxroadrunners.com. The auction will run through Thursday with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the ECHL/Salvation Army Hurricane Relief Fund.
The RoadRunners, in conjunction with the Maricopa County Head Start Program, will host the first annual "Teddy Bear Toss" at 7:11PM on Friday when Phoenix entertains the Bakersfield Condors at America West Arena. Bring a teddy bear with you to the game and toss it onto the ice when the RoadRunners score their first goal. All teddy bears collected will be donated to Head Start just in time for the holiday season. Stuffington Bear Factory will also be at the game selling teddy bears for $5.
For more information or to order tickets, call (602) 462-GOAL or purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from December 11, 2005
- RoadRunners Zip Past Thunder - Stockton Thunder
- Oh Captain, My Captain: Tiltgen Gives Roadrunners 4-3 Win - OSC Original by Andrew Nordmeier
- RoadRunners Silence Thunder 4-3 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Royals Can't Hold Back The Dogs, 5-4 - Reading Royals
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Charlotte clipped at Pensacola 4-3 - Charlotte Checkers
- Roadrunners Get Thunderstruck 4-0 in Stockton - OSC Original by Andrew Nordmeier
- Titans Sneak By Rays 2-1 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Ice Pilots Win 4-3 vs Charlotte - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Thunder-Struck! Stockton Shuts Out 'Runners 4-0 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Open and shutout case - Stockton Thunder
- Falcons Battle from Behind but Eventually Fall in Shootout - Fresno Falcons
- Aces extend streak to 11, beat Fresno 3-2 in a shootout - Alaska Aces
- Grizzlies drop one to Gulls, 4-3 - Utah Grizzlies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
