Aces Squeeze Past RoadRunners 3-2

March 29, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Taylor Christie and Sean O'Connor each scored in the final five minutes of regulation, but the Phoenix RoadRunners could not complete the comeback falling to the Alaska Aces 3-2 before 5,851 at Sullivan Arena in ECHL action Friday.

Despite the loss, the RoadRunners remain tied with the Stockton Thunder for eighth place in the National Conference playoff race with 53 points apiece. The Thunder fell 4-3 at home to Idaho. Bakersfield leapfrogged Phoenix and Stockton into seventh place after defeating the Victoria Salmon Kings 6-3.

Alaska (40-23-5) jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead and never looked back. Kimbi Daniels opened the scoring at 12:13 when he received a feed in the slot from F-P Guenette and perfectly placed a shot over the left glove of RoadRunners goalie Taylor Dakers and into the net for a 1-0 advantage. Josh Soares extended the lead to two goals scoring a shorthanded tally with 0.7 seconds remaining in the period with the RoadRunners on the power play.

Matt Robinson made it 3-0 8:25 into the second period scoring his 18th goal of the season after Guenette dropped the puck off to right-wing circle and Robinson slipped it past Dakers along the ice.

The RoadRunners (22-37-9) appeared to be running out of time until Gino Guyer forced a turnover at the Phoenix line with Alaska on the power play. Guyer took the puck the other way, got a shot off on Alaska goalie Mike Brown, and Christie picked up the rebound and plucked it into the net for a shorthanded goal at 16:39 of the third period to cut the deficit to 3-1. O'Connor made things even more interesting when he re-directed Mitch Carefoot's drive from the half wall over Brown's shoulder and in at 19:54 to pull the RoadRunners to within one goal, but that's as close as they would come as Alaska drove the ensuing face-off down the other end of the ice to run out the final seconds.

Phoenix out-shot Alaska 36-33. Dakers stopped 30 shots but fell to 4-5-2 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-4 on the power play while Alaska was also 0-4 with the man-advantage.

Notes: Christie's goal was the RoadRunners' fifth of the season...O'Connor tallied his sixth goal against Alaska this season and his 19th career goal against the Aces...Center Thatcher Bell was activated off the three-day injured reserve prior to the game. He replaced forward Nathan Gillies who returned to the injured reserve...Defenseman Brett Angel replaced defenseman Tom Sawatske in the line-up after Sawatske was scratched before warm-ups for undisclosed reasons.

The RoadRunners conclude their four-game road trip at 8:15 p.m. Saturday when they wrap up a three-game series with the Alaska Aces from Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. Catch all the action live on Independent 1310 KXAM beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" at 8:00 p.m.

Phoenix returns to US Airways Center for their final home-stand of the regular season when they welcome the Las Vegas Wranglers at 7:11 p.m. Tuesday, April 1.

Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online at ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office. Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2007-08 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.



ECHL Stories from March 29, 2008


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