Gulls Sneak Past Roadrunners 2-1
by Andrew Nordmeier
November 14, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners
The Phoenix Roadrunners have been running in slow motion as of late. Since the calendar changed from October to November, the Roadrunners have changed from winners to losers. Following their 2-1 loss to the San Diego Gulls Sunday afternoon at the ipayOne Center, the âRunners haven't won in six November outings (0-4-2). Phoenix has been outscored 27-14 and outshot 241-142 during the slide.
The goals came in the second period at even strength in a 10-minute span.
The Gulls (3-5-2) struck first when Jesse Bennefield scored his third goal of the year at the 4:00 mark. His wrister beat Phoenix netminder Michael Mole and gave the Gulls a rare lead and was helped by Frantisek Skladany and Jonathan Shockey.
The lead was shortlived as Roadrunner center Dean Tiltgen scored his third of the season at 9:58 to tie the score. Tiltgen rocketed a wrister high to the glove side of San Diego goaltender Tom Lawson and knotted the score at 1-1. Cory Pecker and Dave Cousineau picked up the assists on the lone goal for Phoenix (3-6-2).
The game-winner came from Guillame Fournier at 14:45. His shot from the right-wing circle slipped between Mole's pads and into the goal for his fourth of the season. Martin Mandville and Richard Keyes picked up the assists on the final goal of the game.
The Roadrunners lost not only the game but also more manpower on an injury-ravaged team. Jason Deskins was slashed with about six minutes left in the game but came back before the end. Tiltgen suffered a knee injury in the final 90 seconds and his status is uncertain. Including Tiltgen, Phoenix now has seven players battling injuries that have caused them to miss playing time.
About the only thing that went well for Phoenix was its penalty kill. They stopped all 13 San Diego power plays in this game and found themselves outshot 36-21 by the Gulls.
Things don't get much easier for the Roadrunners as they head to Utah to take on the Grizzlies Friday and Saturday night at the E-Center. Utah has won six in a row and is tied with Idaho atop the Western Division at 8-3-0.
Roadrunners' Injury List
F-Miguel LaFleche 30-day IR until November 18th (knee)
F-Ben Knopp 30-day IR until early December (knees)
D-Ed Hill 7-day IR until November 19th (separated shoulder)
F-Joe Dusbabek 7-day IR until November 21st (knee ligament)
D-Paul Ballantyne 30-day IR until mid December (broken ankle)
G-Mathieu Chouinard day-to-day (groin)
F- Dean Tiltgen status unknown (knee injury)
Three Stars
3. Mole-PHX 34 saves
2. Fournier-SD Game-winning goal
1. Lawson-SD 20 saves for the win
Notes: With the 13 kills, the Gulls are 0-for-31 on the power play this season against Phoenix...The Roadrunners are averaging 21 shots per game during the winless streak and are being outshot by at least 10 shots per game...Phoenix is now 0-6 when trailing after two periods; San Diego is 1-0 when leading after 40 minutes...Phoenix defenseman Brett Henley picked up 24 minutes of penalties on what were described as questionable calls in the closing seconds of the second period; he got a pair of minors, a 10-minute misconduct and a game misconduct...Phoenix's last three losses have all been one-goal games...Pecker's assist keeps his scoring treak going at 11 games...Attendance was 3,603.
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