Falcons Send Roadrunners to Third Straight Loss, 6-1
by Andrew Nordmeier
Published on October 28, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners
The Phoenix Roadrunners started out their annual NBA Weekend by getting slam-dunked by the Fresno Falcons 6-1 Friday night at the US Airways Center. Five of the seven goals in the game were scored on special teams and three of them came shorthanded.
"That was a lesson. That's for sure. Hopefully it's a lesson learned," Phoenix Head Coach Ron Filion said, "You can't play a hockey game without emotion and that's exactly we did tonight."
Phoenix, ironically wearing uniforms patterned after the high-octane Suns of the NBA, was averaging 43 shots a game but was limited to just 22 in this loss.
"We had a bad breakout and no support on the offensive zone and looking for the pretty play instead of putting he puck on net," Filion said about the low shot count.
The Roadrunners (2-3-0) found themselves in an all-too-familiar position after 20 minutes, trailing by two goals yet again.
Luke Curtin put Fresno (3-0-0) ahead 1-0 with his first goal of the season, a top-shelf missile that he hoisted over the fallen Kevin Reiter at 3:30 of the opening period. The goal was shorthanded and the special teams play would continue to prove to be special for the Falcons.
Dustin VanBallegooie scored on a power play goal at 12:54 when his long shot found the back of the net. Curtin picked up an assist as did Cory Murphy and made it 2-0.
"From a system standpoint everyone knew what they had to do but on a personal level I don't how prepared each guy was," Filion said.
Phoenix cut the deficit to 2-1 when Dusty Demianiuk scored his first goal of the season when he outmuscled three Fresno defenders and beat Falcons' netminder Scott Stirling at 9:57.
Fresno responded with John Morlang's shorthanded goal at 11:59 on a breakaway when he beat Reiter through the five hole to make it 3-1. The Falcons pushed their edge to 4-1 when Murphy bagged his first goal of the season at 14:44.
Tomas Fojtik scored his first professional goal at 7:16 of a chippy third period. Three fights broke out in the first five minutes of the period before order was restored. Morlang added a second goal at 14:04 to close the scoring.
"It's up to the players. We guide them we teach them we yell at them but it comes down to their legs and their heart," Filion said, "If they have their heart in the right place they'll move the legs and be in the right spot in the right time."
Reiter stopped 16 of 22 Falcons shots in the loss and fell to 0-2 on the season. Stirling turned aside 30 of 31 Phoenix shots to pickup the win and move to 2-0 this year. Phoenix finished 0-for-6 on the power play while Fresno went 2-for-9 on the man advantage.
These two teams go at it again Saturday night to wrap up Phoenix's season opening six-game homestand.
"It was definitely our worst game. Not something to be proud of," Filion said, "The guys are accountable and none of them backed out of their responsibility and they agreed it was a skating session tonight."
Phoenix held a post-game meeting in its locker room for approximately 25 minutes following the loss.
Three Stars of the Night
3. Morlang-FRE Two goals in the win
2. Murphy-FRE Goal and an assist in the win
1. Curtin-FRE Goal and two assists for a three-point night and the win
Notes: Kevin Reiter signed a professional contract to be the Roadrunners' goaltender after Josh Tordjman was put on the seven-day IR with a hyperextended right elbow...Phoenix resident Jamie Ram was signed on as the emergency backup netminder...Defenseman Jake Ortmeyer was loaned to the San Antonio Rampage earlier in the day and will not play this weekend for Phoenix...The Roadrunners activated defensmen Brian Yandle and Matt Smyth off the disabled list...Phoenix trailed by at least two goals for the fourth time in its first five games...Attendance was 3,089.
ECHL Stories from October 28, 2006
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