Late Goal Dooms Tornado in 3-2 Loss Against Topeka
February 24, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Texas Tornado News Release
A late 3rd period shorthanded goal by the Topeka RoadRunners foiled any attempt by the Texas Tornado to cut into Topeka ¬â¢s 1st place lead, as the RoadRunners edged the Tornado on Thursday night in Frisco, 3-2. Nate Sliwinski had a goal and assist for the Tornado in the loss.
The 1st period went scoreless, but it wasn ¬â¢t without its chances for both teams. Topeka ¬â¢s best chance came off a rebound from Tornado goaltender Jimmy Kruger that went straight to ¬ËRunners forward Andrew White, who appeared to direct the puck in with his skate. Referee Andrew Suhovic ruled the puck was kicked in and the goal was waived off. The best chance for the Tornado came off the stick of Walker Hyland, who was denied on a close one-timers by RoadRunners goaltender Rasmus Tirronen. The other fireworks of the period came when Mico Solorzano was challenged to a fight by Chris Bond after a big hit by Solorzano on Bob Marx. Solorzano got off the majority of punches before wrestling Bond to the ice.
The RoadRunners scored the game ¬â¢s opening goal on the power play in the 2nd period, as a shot from the point by Joe Van Antwerp snuck through traffic and through the legs of Jimmy Kruger for a 1-0 RoadRunners lead. The Tornado would answer late the in the period as a drive from the high slot was saved by Tirronen, but on the rebound Tirronen was taken out by his own defenseman and Sliwinski ¬â¢s rebound shot squeezed underneath Tirronen to tie the game at 1-1 heading into the 3rd period.
The Tornado would take their first lead of the night on the power play, as Jack Prince poked home his 21st goal of the season, with help from Sliwinski and Walker Hyland. However, the lead would not stand as Zach Schrotenboer got loose in front of the net and put home a pass underneath the legs of Kruger to tie the game at 2-2. With the Tornado back on the power play late in the game, a shorthanded rush down the ice by Nate Milam saw him take a slapshot from the far right wing at the hash mark. The shot squeezed through Kruger ¬â¢s right arm between his blocker for the eventual RoadRunners game-winning goal with less than five minutes remaining. A late Tornado surge was negated by a late penalty and the eventual 3-2 win for Topeka, as their lead in the South Division stretched to 11 points.
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North American Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2011
- Late Goal Dooms Tornado in 3-2 Loss Against Topeka - Texas Tornado
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