No Ace Up Their Sleeve

Published on February 13, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


Phoenix, Ariz. - WEEK RECORD: 0-3-0 - SEASON RECORD: 16-27-3 - 6th WEST DIVISION

‘RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners season-high five-game winning streak came to an end with three consecutive losses to the Alaska Aces in Anchorage. The RoadRunners remain in sixth place in the West Division with 35 points, two points behind fifth place Victoria and 21 points behind fourth place Utah for the final playoff spot in the West Division with three games in hand over both clubs.

Friday, Mike Scott recorded a pair of goals and added an assist and the Alaska Aces tallied a club-record six power play markers, including four in the first period, to defeat the Phoenix RoadRunners 6-1 before 5,235 at Sullivan Arena.

The Aces (37-7-3) opened the scoring barrage just 1:24 into the first period. Olivier Filion's blast from the left point beat a screened RoadRunners goaltender Mike Mole to give Alaska a 1-0 lead. Scott extended the lead to 2-0 when his slap shot from the high slot beat a once again screened Mole over his blocker at 12:44. The Aces continued their attack just two minutes later when Scott's one-timer from Ryan Gaucher found its way into the back of the net at 14:44 on a two-man advantage power play. Alex Leavitt capped the scoring at 16:04 when he re-directed Gaucher's pass in front of the net over Mole's right shoulder to make it 4-0 after the first period.

After a scoreless middle period, Joe Talbot deflected Scott's shot behind Ryan Cyr on in replace of Mole at 4:27 of the third to extend Alaska's lead to 5-0. Justin Quenneville notched the lone RoadRunners (16-25-3) tally of the game, picking up the loose puck at the top of the crease and sending a backhand shot over Chris Beckford-Tseu's left shoulder at 7:46 on the power play. Peter Metcalf closed the scoring on a second two-man advantage power play goal at 11:48 of the period.

Alaska out-shot Phoenix 43-21. Mole stopped 10 shots in 20 minutes in falling to 12-19-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-4 on the power play while Alaska was 6-11 on the man-advantage.

Saturday, Mike Scott tallied a goal and added two assists, his second consecutive three-point game, to lift the Alaska Aces to a 3-1 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 5,039 at Sullivan Arena.

After a scoreless first period, Alaska (38-7-3) struck for a pair of goals in the middle frame. Mike Lee opened the scoring at 9:05 when he re-directed Louis Mass' centering feed through the pads of RoadRunners goaltender Mike Mole to give the Aces a 1-0 lead. Mike Scott extended the lead to 2-0 at 15:28. Corbin Schmidt sprung Scott ahead with a pass into the offensive zone, and Scott got to the puck after slipping past a Phoenix defenseman before coming in front of Mole and beating him with a shot to the stick side for the tally.

The Aces built their lead to 3-0 just 37 seconds into the third period when Joe Talbot finished off a two-on-one pass from Alex Leavitt tipping the puck past Mole. The RoadRunners (16-26-3) would finally crack the scoreboard at 7:43 of the third on the power play. Justin Quenneville's shot from the slot deflected off Alaska goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu's blocker and rolled into the net to cut the deficit to 3-1. But the Aces would finish off the RoadRunners as Leavitt collected a loose puck in front of Mole and sneaked it through the goaltender's pads at 16:15 to cap the scoring.

Phoenix out-shot Alaska 26-25. Mole stopped 21 shots in falling to 12-20-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-7 on the power play.

Sunday, the Alaska Aces tallied five unanswered goals led by a goal and two assists from Kimbi Daniels to defeat the Phoenix RoadRunners 5-2 and sweep the three-game series before 4,134 at Sullivan Arena.

The RoadRunners (16-26-3) opened the scoring for the first time this series when Shawn Snider on a nifty backhand shot lifted the puck over Alaska goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu's left shoulder and into the net at 8:22 of the first period to give Phoenix a 1-0 lead. But the Aces (39-7-3), sluggish for much of the period, would respond with a pair of goals in the final two minutes. Mike Scott at the top of the crease knocked Mike Lee's rebound past RoadRunners goaltender Ryan Cyr at 18:16 to tie the contest at 1-1. Barrett Heisten gave Alaska their first lead of the game when he wrapped the puck around the net and through Cyr's pads at 19:36 to close the opening period.

After a scoreless middle period, the Aces erupted for three more tallies. Joe Talbot slipped Scott's rebound by Cyr just 33 seconds into the third period on the power play to extend the lead to 3-1. Daniel's potted his fifth goal of the year at 9:37 on the power play, and Ryan Gaucher beat Cyr with a floating shot from the right point at 14:42 to give Alaska a comfortable 5-1 lead. Justin Quenneville netted his third goal in as many nights 15:57 to close the scoring.

Alaska out-shot Phoenix 34-25. Cyr turned aside 29 shots in his first start in a RoadRunners uniform to fall to 0-5-0 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-3 on the power play while the Aces converted on two of eight chances.

WELCOME BACK PART III: Defenseman Dave Cousineau became the third RoadRunners' player to return from the injured reserve for a third consecutive week following the comebacks of defenseman Paul Ballantyne and forward Ben Knopp. Cousineau missed 18 games after suffering an injury back on December 21 against Idaho. The Waterloo, Ontario native has two goals and nine points in 29 games this season. Phoenix enjoyed the luxury of seven healthy defensemen this past weekend for the first time all season.

CRAFTY QUENNEVILLE: Right-Wing Justin Quenneville continued his torrid play in Alaska. Quenneville tallied a goal in all three games and has now recorded six goals and 13 points in his first 13 games with the RoadRunners. Four of Quenneville's six goals have come on the power play, tying him for second on the club in power play goals with Dean Tiltgen. Quenneville finished as the RoadRunners leading scorer against Alaska with three goals and four points in just five games. The Montreal, Quebec native was acquired from Bakersfield along with goaltender Ryan Cyr on January 11.

CYR GETS THE NOD: Speaking of Cyr, the goaltender made his first start in a RoadRunners uniform and his first start in more than six weeks in Sunday's 5-2 loss. The Abbotsford, British Columbia native turned aside 29 shots, including all 18 he saw in the second period alone. Cyr's last start prior to Sunday came on December 3 at Pensacola as a member of the Bakersfield Condors. Cyr is 0-5-0 in nine appearances so far in his rookie season with a 4.04 goals against average and a .886% save percentage.

HOME SWEET HOME: The RoadRunners finally make their return to the Valley of the Sun Tuesday following a three and a half week absence from US Airways Center for a season-long nine-game road trip. Since their last home game on January 19, the RoadRunners have traveled a total of 15,404 miles to and from West Valley City, Utah; Victoria, British Columbia; Pensacola, Florida; and Anchorage, Alaska. Phoenix wrapped up their trip with a 5-4-0 record, which included a club-record five-game winning streak. All five victories were also by a single goal. The RoadRunners averaged 2.55 goals per game during the trip while surrendering an average of 3.66 goals per game. Phoenix also finished 8-42 (19%) on the power play. In their previous 12 home games before the trip, the RoadRunners had averaged 1.83 goals per game while surrendering an average of 3.83 goals per game. Meanwhile, Phoenix was a futile 4-55 on the power play (7.2%) and 60-81 (74.1%) on the penalty kill. For the season, in 24 home games the RoadRunners have averaged 2.41 goals per game and are 17-119 (14.3%) on the power play, while in 22 road games, they have averaged 2.22 goals per game and are 16-110 (14.5%) on the man-advantage situation. The RoadRunners will look to improve on their 7-14-3 home record.

CHECK ONLINE FOR OUR SPECIAL VALENTINE'S DAY AUCTION: The Phoenix RoadRunners have teamed up with the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury to make a special delivery this Valentine's Day. The Suns Gorilla, Mercury mascot Scorch and Rocky the RoadRunner will make surprise deliveries on Tuesday to sweethearts, kids or friends of the top bidders via a special online auction on www.phoenixmercury.com. The Gorilla will make one delivery to the top bidder, while Scorch and Rocky will deliver Valentine's Day goodies to each of their top two bidders, respectively. Bidding starts at $100 for Scorch and Rocky and $150 for the Gorilla. Bidding will close at noon on Monday. Winners will be contacted on Feb. 13 regarding details of the delivery. A portion of the proceeds from the auctions will benefit Best Buddies of Arizona. Best Buddies enhances the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. Visit www.bestbuddiesphoenix.org for more information.

UPCOMING ROADRUNNERS PROMOTIONS: What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with the Phoenix RoadRunners. The RoadRunners return to US Airways Center at 7:11PM on Tuesday, February 14 as they welcome the Long Beach Ice Dogs, and all Valentine dates can receive $2 off their ticket with the purchase of a regular priced ticket. Or why not make it dinner and a hockey game? Receive two tickets to the RoadRunners game against Long Beach and then head to Coach & Willie's located behind US Airways Center for dinner, a bottle of wine or champagne, and a rose for your sweetheart, all for one low price of just $100! Visit www.phxroadrunners.com for more details.

The RoadRunners, in conjunction with the Arizona Department of Health Services, will host "Through With Chew Night at the RoadRunners" at 7:11PM on Friday against the Victoria Salmon Kings. Forward Mike Ouellet has teamed up with ADHS in his choice to quit spit tobacco. The first 2,000 fans will receive a Mike Ouellet growth chart poster.

The Phoenix RoadRunners Booster Club will host their first annual "Bowl With the RoadRunners" party from 1PM-4PM this Sunday. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the RoadRunners Booster Club table located behind Section 121 on the main concourse at US Airways Center.

The RoadRunners will battle the Utah Grizzlies at 7:11PM on Tuesday, February 21. It's Banner Health Night, and the first 2,000 fans receive a pedometer courtesy of Banner Health.

WATCH THE ‘RUNNERS LIVE IN '05-06: The RoadRunners have teamed up with B2 Networks to bring you live action of Phoenix RoadRunners hockey in 2005-06. RoadRunners fans will be able to click the "Watch Online" link at www.phxroadrunners.com to view and listen to the game. These broadcasts are available to fans for a charge of $6 per game. All 36 RoadRunners home broadcasts will be available in addition to over 25 road games in Alaska, Idaho, Pensacola, Las Vegas, San Diego, Utah, and Bakersfield. A cable or DSL Internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 are required to view the games.

UP NEXT: The RoadRunners open a four-game homestand with a pair of games this week at 7:11PM Tuesday against the Long Beach Ice Dogs and at 7:11PM Friday against the Victoria Salmon Kings. Catch both contests live on News Talk Radio 1100AM KFNX and Pro Sports Radio beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off.

PHOENIX ROADRUNNERS SCHEDULE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 13TH

Monday, February 13: Depart Anchorage, AK 4:30PM; Arrive in Phoenix 11:29PM

Tuesday, February 14: Morning Skate TBA; RoadRunners vs. Long Beach 7:11PM

Wednesday, February 15: Practice 10AM-11:30AM @ Alltel Ice Den

Thursday, February 16: Practice 10AM-11:30AM @ Alltel Ice Den

Friday, February 17: Morning Skate 10AM; RoadRunners vs. Victoria 7:11PM

Saturday, February 18: Practice 4PM-5PM @ Arcadia Ice Arena

Sunday, February 19: RoadRunners Booster Club Bowling Party 1PM-4PM



ECHL Stories from February 13, 2006


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