Largest crowd in almost six years sees Tornado edged by Topeka
February 26, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Texas Tornado News Release
In front of the largest crowd to watch a Tornado home game in almost six years, the Texas Tornado fell to the 1st place Topeka RoadRunners by a score of 4-2. Marc Biggs and Jack Prince scored for Texas, who finished with a 2-5-1 record in the regular season to Topeka. Two goals in the early stages of the 3rd period by the RoadRunners proved to be the difference in the tightly fought game. The Tornado crowd of 4,080 was the largest to attend a regular season home game at the Dr Pepper Arena since March 5, 2005.
Topeka would again strike first seven minutes into the opening period as a shot from the slot by Bob Marx went wide, but Jimmy Kruger could not spot the rebound in time before it found the stick of Jake Lynes, who put home his second goal of the season for a 1-0 RoadRunners lead. The Tornado generated just four shots in the opening period as the offense struggled to get going after controlling the first five minutes of the game.
The Tornado again found it hard-going offensively in the 2nd period as Topeka worked the trap to perfection. However, the Tornado would answer to tie the game on the power play. JD Howard got a perfect backdoor pass, but could not convert as he tipped the puck wide. The puck ended up on the stick of Tyler Rostenkowski, who sent a shot goalward from the point. Marc Biggs was standing in front and redirected the shot over the shoulder of RoadRunners goaltender Eric Rohrkemper to tie the game at 1-1 and bring the 4,000+ fans to their feet.
But, the RoadRunners would show why they are the top team in the South Division this season with two goals in the first six and a half minutes of the 3rd period. First, as the Tornado failed to clear the zone, Ryan White got loose behind the defense and tipped home a shot from Bob Marx past an unsuspecting Jimmy Kruger for a 2-1 Topeka lead. Five minutes later and while on the power play, Topeka's Nate Milam took a wrist shot from the lower right face-off dot, which Kruger fought off with his chest, but failed to control the rebound as it went right to Brian Christie for a power play goal and a 3-1 lead. The Tornado struck back on a 5 on 3 power play to make it 3-2 as Jack Prince got open in the high slot and fired a shot past a screened Rohrkemper. But, that was close as the Tornado would get as a late empty-net goal from Nate Milam gave Topeka the 4-2 and a sweep of the Tornado.
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