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Close But No Cigar

January 9, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


Phoenix, Ariz. - WEEK RECORD: 0-3-0 - SEASON RECORD: 9-21-2 - 6th WEST DIVISION

‘RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners played some tough hockey, yet failed to break into the win column for a third consecutive week after dropping home games to Alaska and Stockton and falling on the road at Las Vegas. The RoadRunners remain in sixth place in the West Division with 20 points, but only five points behind fifth place Victoria with four games in hand.

Thursday, Joe Talbot tallied a goal and added three assists to lead the Alaska Aces to a 5-0 shutout victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 3,268 at America West Arena.

Talbot opened the scoring for Alaska (23-4-3) with a power play goal at 5:42 of the first period. Talbot stepped out from the end line and beat RoadRunners goaltender Mike Mole with a wrist shot over the right shoulder to give the Aces a 1-0 lead.

Ryan Ramsay extended the lead to 2-0 just 38 seconds into the second. Ramsay took a cross-ice feed from Talbot at the right-wing circle and tapped the puck by a cheating Mole to give the Aces another tally. Alaska netted their second power play goal of the game later in the period. Mike Scott beat Mole along the ice with a one-time slap shot from the right circle at 6:58 of the second period.

Corbin Schmidt netted his first professional goal at 3:31 of the third period, as he beat Mole with a slap shot from the left-wing boards to increase Alaska's advantage to 4-0. Vladimir Novak finished the scoring with a power play goal at 15:11.

The RoadRunners (9-19-2) out-shot Alaska 30-29. Mole stopped 24 shots in falling to 5-14-2 on the season. Phoenix went 0-7 on the power play and surrendered three power play goals in eight chances on the penalty kill.

Friday, Sean O'Connor, playing in his first game since November 17, scored a goal and added an assist to lead the Las Vegas Wranglers to a 3-1 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 4,877 at the Orleans Arena.

Christian Chartier opened the scoring for the Wranglers (25-6-3) at the tail end of the first period with a power play goal. Chartier took a pass from Steve Crampton in the high slot and beat RoadRunners goaltender Mathieu Chouinard with a wrist shot over the blocker at 18:19 to give Las Vegas a 1-0 lead after twenty minutes.

The RoadRunners (9-20-2) appeared to tie the game at the conclusion of the second period. Taylor Christie put home Ben Knopp's rebound past Wranglers goaltender Marc Magliarditi just as the horn was sounding, but referee Matt Bialota ruled the puck crossed the end line after the horn had sounded and therefore no goal.

Las Vegas would use the call to their advantage to start the third. Shawn Limpright floated the puck to an open O'Connor streaking down the right-wing side, and O'Connor went to the net and slipped a backhander over Chouinard into the upper-right corner at 6:42 to give the Wranglers a 2-0 lead. The RoadRunners would battle back late in the game with Chouinard pulled for the extra attacker. Joe Dusbabek found the puck at the side of the net and put a shot past Magliarditi at 18:43 to get Phoenix back to within a goal at 2-1. However, Chris Stanley capped the scoring with an empty net goal at 19:36 to make the final 3-1.

Las Vegas out-shot Phoenix 30-26. Chouinard stopped 27 shots as he fell to 4-6-0 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-5 on the power play.

Sunday, goaltender Jake Moreland stopped 45 shots and Steve Slonina scored with less than three minutes remaining in regulation to break a scoreless tie and lead the Stockton Thunder to a 1-0 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 3,665 at the US Airways Center.

Stockton (6-17-4) would get all the scoring they would need late in the hockey game. Maris Ziedins stripped RoadRunners' forward Mark Wires at the Stockton blue line and fed Steve Slonina who snuck into the offensive zone. Slonina fired a wrist shot from the high slot over goaltender Mike Mole's blocker off the crossbar and into the net at 17:19 of the third period to give the Thunder the 1-0 win and snap their 10-game winless streak.

Phoenix out-shot Stockton 45-17 and 33-6 over the final two periods. Mole stopped 16 shots in dropping to 5-15-2 on the season. The RoadRunners (9-21-2) went 0-5 on the power play.

TOTAL DOMINATION: The RoadRunners set numerous club records despite Sunday's loss to Stockton. The 45 shots on goal were the most in a game for Phoenix, while the 17 shots against were the fewest allowed. The +28 shot differential for the game was also a franchise record. The 17 shots in the third period marked a season-high and a club record for the most shots in a single period. Meanwhile, the three penalties taken by the RoadRunners and the one power play against also found their way into the record books as all-time lows.

PENALTY KILL PITCHES A SHUTOUT: By killing Stockton's lone power play on Sunday, the RoadRunners held an opponent without a power play goal for the first time in 14 games. After surrendering 24 power play attempts in three games to Fresno and Alaska, the RoadRunners have been on the penalty kill just four times in their last two games. Phoenix has allowed 48 power play goals this season and ranks 22nd in the ECHL in penalty kill efficiency at 76.5%.

HENLY RETURNS: Defenseman Brent Henley made his return to the line-up Sunday after serving his two-game suspension. Henley received the suspension on Tuesday for his actions in the January 1 game against Fresno. Henley ranks second on the club in plus-minus rating with a plus-five.

SEEING LOTS OF ICE TIME: The RoadRunners are in the midst of their busiest week to date with five games in seven nights. Phoenix will host Alaska Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday before traveling to Las Vegas on Saturday. There isn't much rest for the weary before Tuesday's game as the RoadRunners just battled Stockton on Sunday.

UPCOMING ROADRUNNERS PROMOTIONS: The RoadRunners host the first annual "'80's Mullet Rock Night" this Friday at US Airways Center when Phoenix battles Alaska. The first 2,000 fans will receive retro-style mullet wigs and there will be mullet contests throughout the game. For more information or to order tickets, call (602) 462-GOAL.

WATCH THE ‘RUNNERS LIVE IN '05-06: The RoadRunners have teamed up with B2 Networks to bring you live action of Phoenix RoadRunners hockey in 2005-06. RoadRunners fans will be able to click the "Watch Online" link at www.phxroadrunners.com to view and listen to the game. These broadcasts are available to fans for a charge of $6 per game. All 36 RoadRunners home broadcasts will be available in addition to over 25 road games in Alaska, Idaho, Pensacola, Las Vegas, San Diego, Utah, and Bakersfield. A cable or DSL Internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 are required to view the games.

UP NEXT: The RoadRunners will play four games in five nights this week. Phoenix welcomes the Alaska Aces to US Airways Center for a three-game series at 7:11PM Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. The RoadRunners will then hit the road to conclude the week when they face-off against the Las Vegas Wranglers at 8:05PM MST Saturday from the Orleans Arena. Catch all three games live on News Talk Radio 1100AM KFNX and Pro Sports Radio beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" twenty minutes before opening face-off.



ECHL Stories from January 9, 2006


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.

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