Late Goal Lifts 'Runners
Published on December 18, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
Topeka RoadRunners head coach Scott Langer has talked more than once this season about the importance of playing a complete 60 minute game without lapses in focus. The RoadRunners needed every last bit of 60 minutes to squeak out a 2-1 win in regulation over New Mexico on Friday night.
The first period was a relatively uneventful affair, a nondescript stanza in which Topeka outshot New Mexico 12-10 with each team managing a couple of legitimate decent scoring chances but with neither side able to get on the board. The second period was a scoreless one also, though it was the Mustangs who had numerous "grade A" scoring chances that were either fired wide or denied by a solid effort from netminder Rasmus Tirronen. Late in the period, the games only scrap took place with New Mexico's Kevin O'Connor battling Alex Vazquez, who was playing with the RoadRunners for a weekend tryout. The fight was like the first two periods in microcosm; a decent bit of effort with nothing to show for it as the bout ended quickly with a lot of grappling but no real punches landed.
Topeka got on the board at 4:43 of the third period. Kevin Novakovich did a nice job forechecking on the end boards to gain control of the puck, then caromed a pass back to the right point where Bob Marx pulled the trigger. Alex Vazquez got his blade on the puck to deflect it past goalie Marco Wieser for the go-ahead goal. New Mexico tied it up when Adam Chapie knocked a rebound in behind Tirronen with exactly 5 minutes left in the game. In a game where goals had been at an extreme premium and Topeka had struggled at times with puck control, it seemed overtime was inevitable. No one told that to Brian Christie, as he made a last second juke in front the net to slide the game winning goal home with 10 seconds left for the 2-1 lead. The play was set up nicely by two quick passes from Kyle Sharkey and Andrew O'Leary and came shortly after Rasmus Tirronen was forced to stack the pads to deny a scoring chance by Patrick Anderson at the opposite end of the rink. The Mustangs used their time out and lined up six skaters for the ensuing faceoff, and managed to get off a quality shot from the high slot that Tirronen kicked aside in the waning seconds.
Topeka (18-7-2) will face New Mexico (8-19-3) on Saturday at 7:05 pm. The game is sponsored by "Country Legends Cares" and features the annual Teddy Bear Toss. After the RoadRunners score their first goal, fans are encouraged to toss stuffed animals onto the ice where they will be collected and donated to the Topeka Rescue Mission through local radio station KTPK, Country Legends 106.9.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2010
- Wild Sweeps Rage: Vandercook Records Hat Trick - Wenatchee Wild
- Tornado Snap Skid with Thrilling 4-3 Win Over IceRays - Texas Tornado
- 2010 Ends on Sour Note for Corpus Christi, 4-3 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Bulls Raise Money for Amarillo Youth Hockey - Amarillo Bulls
- Bulls Beat Texas 1-0 - Amarillo Bulls
- Ouch - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Late Goal Lifts 'Runners - Topeka Pilots
- TC falls to Motor City - Traverse City North Stars
- Bobcats Rally to Edge Express - Bismarck Bobcats
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