Ice Dogs Sweep Roadrunners in Shootout 3-2
by Andrew Nordmeier
November 12, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners
For the second time this season, the Phoenix Roadrunners took to the ice against the Long Beach Ice Dogs. For the second time in the last three nights, the Roadrunners fell to the Ice Dogs in a shootout and are now winless in five games (0-3-2) following a 3-2 loss Friday night at America West Arena.
Long Beach extended its winning streak to six games (5-0-1) by outscoring Phoenix 3-1 in the shootout and got goals from Jason Sessa, Ash Goldie and Max Birbraer. They beat Phoenix goaltender Michael Mole who was a last-second starter for the Roadrunners; Mathieu Chouinard was supposed to start but reaggravated a nagging groin injury and couldn't go.
"As a goalie you want to play every game if you can," Mole said about the quick call, "You've got be ready anytime you get the chance to go in."
Long Beach (5-4-1) struck first when Mike Woodford scored his first professional goal at 14:52 of the opening period. Woodford found a loose puck at the side of the net, wrapped it around the back of the net and banked it off Mole's pads and in.
The Roadrunners (3-5-2) struck back when Joe Dusbabek finished on a 2-on-1 breakaway with Jason Deskins. They executed two perfect passes and Dusbabek scored his third of the year at 18:28 of the second period. The play was a textbook 2-on-1 rush and Long Beach goaltender Greg Hewitt had no chance to stop the shot.
"Dusbabek played on one leg tonight." Phoenix head coach Ron Filion said. He was a game-time decision on whether or not his knee would allow to him play. Obviously he felt he could go and finished with a goal and an assist.
Surprisingly, the teams were tied going into the third period despite Long Beach holding a 31-18 edge in shots. Each team scored a power-play goal in the third to get to overtime.
First, Long Beach capitalized on the man advantage to go up 2-1. With John Fieweger in the box for Phoenix, Goldie scored his fifth goal of the season. Long Beach's Christian Larrivee threaded a pass through three Roadrunner defensemen to Goldie. He beat Mole high to the glove side at 1:55.
Phoenix responded with a Paul Ballantyne goal on the man advantage at 16:44. While Kevin Ulanski stewed in the penalty box, Ballantyne unleashed a long bomb from the point and it found the back of the net. Hewitt was screened and didn't the find puck until it was too late.
Long Beach had one final chance in regulation but Mole made a huge save on Sean McAslan in the final minute to keep the game knotted at 2-2. The Ice Dogs had a power play in overtime but failed to convert on it.
Mole takes the hard-luck loss and falls to 0-3-2 this year while Hewitt gets back to .500 at 4-4-1. Mole is encouraged by his recent performances.
"It's more frustrating than anything. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but you just can't seem to reach it," Mole said about being so close to his first professional win, "It's a sign that things are looking up. I'm anxious to get that monkey off my back and hopefully it will come in the next game or two."
Phoenix has a little bit of time to make changes to get back in the win column. The Roadrunners start a three-game road trip by visiting the San Diego Gulls at the iPayOne Center Sunday afternoon before heading to Utah to take on the Grizzlies Friday and Saturday night.
"Tonight I saw a bunch of warriors, guys who stuck to the plan," Filion said, "Now it's just a question of staying together through the storm."
Three Stars
3. Dusbabek-PHX Goal and an assist.
2. Mole-PHX Stopped 45 of 47 in regulation
1. Goldie-LB Game-winner in shootout; goal, assist in regulation
Notes: Phoenix played without defenseman Ed Hill who will be moved to the 7-day IR with a shoulder injury...Phoenix was outshot 47-25 for the night, marking the second straight night they have been outshot by at least 20 shots...Jason Deskins scored in the shootout for Phoenix, the first such goal in Roadrunner history...The Roadrunners fourth-best power play finished just 1-of-7 on the man advantage; Long Beach capitalized on 1-of-5 power-play chances...Long Beach is 3-1 in shootouts this season while Phoenix is 0-2...Attendance was a season-high 5,050 for the Roadrunners, slightly better than their opening night crowd.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from November 12, 2005
- Schoneck Ties Game With 2:04 left, O'Connor wins Shootout - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Lightning the Lamp - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Solid Goaltending Leads Grizzlies Over Ice Dogs, 5-1 - Utah Grizzlies
- Venedam Nets Two in 4-3 Shootout Loss to Vegas - Bakersfield Condors
- Fresno Outlasts Gulls In Shootout, 4-3 - San Diego Gulls
- Grizzlies End Ice Dogs Unbeaten Streak At 6 - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Aces drop series finale in Idaho, 4-3 - Alaska Aces
- Steelheads down Aces 4-3 to avoid sweep - Idaho Steelheads
- Gladiators Bite Everblades, 3-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Lynx win thriller in shootout - Augusta Lynx
- Storm's three power play goals sink Trenton - Trenton Devils
- Nailers Down Chiefs 4-2 - Wheeling Nailers
- Chiefs Fall, but Find Toughness - Johnstown Chiefs
- Everblades fall 3-1 to Gladiators - Florida Everblades
- Bombers beaten in Reading, 5-2 - Dayton Bombers
- Stars recall Fahey from Steelheads - Idaho Steelheads
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Rays Ink Reid - South Carolina Stingrays
- Slovak Recalled To Lowell - San Diego Gulls
- Ice Pilots Win 3-2 vs Charlotte - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Larman called up by Amerks - Florida Everblades
- Ice Dogs Sweep Roadrunners in Shootout 3-2 - OSC Original by Andrew Nordmeier
- Six Former ECHL Players Compete For Team USA - ECHL
- Checkers drop first of season in regulation 3-2 at Pensacola - Charlotte Checkers
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
