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Phoenix Continues Four-Game Holiday Home-stand Monday and Wednesday

December 30, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


'RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners returned to US Airways Center following a five-game road trip and split the first two games of their current four-game home-stand winning 3-2 Thursday and dropping a 5-3 decision Saturday. With a record of 10-14-5 and 25 points, the RoadRunners are currently fifth in the West Division and eighth overall in the National Conference.

Thursday, Sean O'Connor tallied a goal and added an assist to lead the Phoenix RoadRunners to a 3-2 win over the Bakersfield Condors before 3,191 at US Airways Center.

Bakersfield (7-16-5) opened the scoring just 3:55 into the first period when Steven Later ripped a shot behind RoadRunners goalie Cody Rudkowsky for a 1-0 lead. Phoenix (10-13-5) responded less than two minutes later scoring off a Condors turnover as Ryan Walsh split the pads of Bakersfield goalie Yutaka Fukufuji at 5:37 to tie the contest at 1-1.

The RoadRunners grabbed a 3-1 lead with a pair of goals in the middle period. O'Connor scored his team-leading 13th goal of the season at 4:21 of the second when he collected the loose puck at the top of Fukufuji's crease and tipped it into the back of the net giving the RoadRunners a 2-1 edge. Thatcher Bell later made it 3-1 when Brian Yandle found the rookie center with a perfect pass to the left-wing circle, and Bell whipped the puck past Fukufuji at 9:21 of the period.

The Condors grabbed one back late in the game as Tim Konsorada scored his 17th goal of the season at 14:46 of the third period, but it was not enough.

Phoenix out-shot Bakersfield 42-24. Rudkowsky stopped 22 shots to improve to 5-9-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-5 on the power play while Bakersfield was 0-5 with the man-advantage.

Saturday, Colin Sinclair tallied a pair of goals, and the Idaho Steelheads scored three times on the power play in the second period to erase a 2-0 deficit and defeat the Phoenix RoadRunners 5-3 before 3,920 at US Airways Center.

The RoadRunners (10-14-5) jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead. Scott Kelman, in his first game since Nov. 25, opened the scoring 10:40 seconds into the period when he took a pass off the right wall from Justin Maiser and snapped a shot behind Idaho goalie Kellen Briggs. Daniel Sisca made it 2-0 less than two minutes later scoring from the high slot at 12:36 on the power play.

Idaho (14-10-7) responded with four unanswered goals in the second period scoring three times on the power play. Taggart Desmet got the Steelheads on the scoreboard collecting Marty Flichel's rebound and tapping the puck behind RoadRunners goalie Cody Rudkowsky at 4:18 of the period on the man-advantage. Blake Forsyth tied the game at 2-2 when he stuffed the loose puck sitting on the end line into the net at 6:36. Sinclair later gave the Steelheads their first lead of the game at 11:29 on the power play beating Rudkowsky with a shot from the right-wing circle. Lance Galbraith continued the power play barrage as he tapped Matt Craig's pass behind Rudkowsky at 18:53 on the man-advantage.

Phoenix would cut the deficit to a single tally at 7:32 of the third period on the power play when Ian Turner, on a terrific individual effort from neutral ice, flipped a backhand pass over to Sean O'Connor in the slot and O'Connor rifled a shot by Briggs bringing the RoadRunners to within 4-3. But that's as close as they would come as Sinclair scored his second goal of the game with an empty-netter at 19:09 to seal the win.

Idaho out-shot Phoenix 36-26. Rudkowsky stopped 31 shots but fell to 5-10-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 2-4 on the power play while Idaho was 3-5 with the man-advantage.

WELCOME BACK: Center Scott Kelman made a triumphant return to the RoadRunners line-up Saturday after missing 13 straight games by scoring the club's first goal of the evening. Kelman, who opened the season with two goals and 11 points in his first 14 games, including a three-assist effort on Nov. 24 at Bakersfield, had been on the 30-day injured reserve retroactive to Nov. 28. The goal was his first since scoring in a 6-2 loss on Nov. 10 against Las Vegas. Kelman is just two games shy of 300 for his professional career.

FIRST GOAL NOT A WINNER: The RoadRunners went against the standard last week winning Thursday after giving up the first goal, and losing Saturday after scoring first. Phoenix is 7-2-4 when scoring first and 3-12-5 when surrendering the first goal. Entering play Sunday, ECHL teams were an impressive 259-69-40 when tallying the opening goal.

HOME SWEET HOME: Center Daniel Sisca leads all RoadRunners with five goals and 19 points in 16 games this season at US Airways Center. Forwards Sean O'Connor and Justin Maiser each have nine goals at home to share the team lead. As a club, the RoadRunners are averaging 3.31 goals per game at home compared to 2.69 goals per game on the road.

NEWS & NOTES: Defenseman Brian Yandle is currently riding a season-high four-game scoring streak with one goal and four assists since Dec. 17...O'Connor is currently enjoying a season-high three-game goal streak dating back to Dec. 22 and has eight goals so far in the month of December...Sisca leads the RoadRunners in overall scoring this month with two goals and 11 points in 11 games.

WATCH THE 'RUNNERS LIVE IN '07-08: The RoadRunners have teamed up with B2 Networks to bring you live action of Phoenix RoadRunners hockey in 2006-07. 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, Las Vegas, Stockton, Utah, and Bakersfield. A cable or DSL Internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 are required to view the games.

UP NEXT: The RoadRunners conclude their four-game home-stand at 3:00 p.m. Monday and 7:11 p.m. Wednesday with the Idaho Steelheads, and open a season-long 12-game road trip with a two-game series Friday and Saturday at Alaska. Catch Friday's action from Anchorage live on Independent 1310 KXAM and all four games at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" twenty minutes prior to face-off. Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2007-08 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.

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