Alaska Nips RoadRunners 3-2 In Final Seconds
Published on March 15, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Matt Stefanishion broke a 2-2 tie with 18.4 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Alaska Aces a 3-2 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 5,974 at Sullivan Arena in ECHL action Saturday.
Mitch Carefoot opened the scoring for the RoadRunners (26-30-4) at 3:22 of the first period when he took the puck from along the end-boards in the Alaska zone, curled out in front of the net and tucked the puck through Aces goaltender Kevin Nastiuk's pads and in for a 1-0 lead.
Nick Tuzzolino netted the equalizer for Alaska (39-21-3) at 5:45 of the second as he beat RoadRunners' goalie Kyle Jones over the blocker with a shot from the right-wing circle to tie the score at 1-1. Phoenix re-gained their one-goal lead minutes later when Daniel Sisca snapped the puck past Nastiuk and into the upper right corner of the net at 8:39. But the Aces would have the period's final say as Alexandre Imbeault converted on a power play goal at 12:16 to tie the score at 2-2.
It would remain tied until the closing seconds of regulation when Tuzzolino pushed the puck towards the net and Stefanishion picked it up and snapped it past an out-stretched Jones at 19:41 for the game-winner.
Alaska out-shot Phoenix 33-14. Jones stopped 30 shots but suffered the loss to fall to 6-12-1 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-2 on the power play while Alaska was 1-6 with the man-advantage.
Notes: Carefoot's goal was his 13th of the season setting a new personal best...Forwards Chase Trull and P.J. Corsi and defensemen Brian Deeth all made their RoadRunners' debuts after being acquired prior to Friday's trade deadline. Center David Rutherford did not dress due to a lower body injury...The 14 shots on goal was a season-low for the RoadRunners...After losing 5-0 Wednesday, the RoadRunners have trailed for only 6:23 in the last two games of this four-game series.
The RoadRunners continue a five-game trip and a stretch of 12 out of their final 15 games on the road at 4:05 p.m. Sunday with their fourth and final game against the Alaska Aces at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. Catch all the action live at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" at 2:45 p.m.
Phoenix returns to US Airways Center at 7:05 p.m. Thursday, March 19 when they open a two-game series against the Alaska Aces.
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 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.
ECHL Stories from March 15, 2009
- Reign Defeated By Salmon Kings, 3-1 - Ontario Reign
- Alaska Completes Four-Game Sweep in Home Finale, 7-1 - Alaska Aces
- Everblades Weekly - Florida Everblades
- Grizzlies Blank Idaho 3-0 - Utah Grizzlies
- Aces Sweep Away RoadRunners With 7-1 Win - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Steelheads Lose To Grizzlies, 3-0 - Idaho Steelheads
- Salmon Kings take finale from Reign - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Nailers back into first place - Wheeling Nailers
- Chiefs dropped in OT by Nailers - Johnstown Chiefs
- Gladiators Beat Everblades 6-3 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Baker sets single-season point record, but Blades fall 6-3 to Gladiators - Florida Everblades
- Reimer's First Professional Shutout Leads Rays Over Checkers 4-0 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Cyclones Rally In Trenton For 3-2 Win, Re-take North Lead - Cincinnati Cyclones
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Devils Fall at Home to Cincinnati, 3-2 - Trenton Devils
- Second period collapse dooms Checkers against Stingrays - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Ontario Reign at Victoria Salmon Kings - Ontario Reign
- Forward Sweetland reassigned to Blades - Florida Everblades
- Wheeling Nailers Game Preview - Wheeling Nailers
- Steelheads Blanked in Las Vegas, 3-0 - Idaho Steelheads
- Stefanishion Propels Aces, 3-2 - Alaska Aces
- Alaska Nips RoadRunners 3-2 In Final Seconds - Phoenix RoadRunners
- 'Brontos' fall to Utah, 4-3 - Bakersfield Condors
- Huge Crowd Witnesses Valiant Effort As Sea Wolves Fall On Late Goal To Florida - Mississippi Sea Wolves
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