Phoenix Drops Consecutive Games Following 3-0-0 Start

Published on October 28, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


PHOENIX, Ariz. - WEEK RECORD 0-2-0 - SEASON RECORD 3-2-0 - 1ST WEST DIVISION

'RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners dropped a pair of games to Stockton and Bakersfield last week at US Airways Center after beginning the season with a three-game weekend sweep of the Utah Grizzlies. With a record of 3-2-0 and six points, the RoadRunners remain in first place in the West Division, and are currently tied for third in the National Conference.

Wednesday, Ryan O'Marra scored a pair of goals in his ECHL debut and goalie Glenn Fisher stopped all 38 shots he faced to record his first professional shutout and lead the Stockton Thunder to a 4-0 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 2,031 at US Airways Center.

Stockton (1-3-0) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of special teams' goals in the first period. Jesse Bennefield put the Thunder on the board at 3:39 of the period on the power play when he slammed home the pass from Andy Contois by RoadRunners goalie Cody Rudkowsky for a 1-0 lead. Contois later made it 2-0 at 17:27 with a shorthanded goal off a RoadRunners turnover at center ice.

O'Marra scored his first of two on the power play at 3:58 of the third period beating Rudkowsky from the right-wing circle to increase Stockton's lead to 3-0. O'Marra added his second power play goal of the period at 11:28 deflecting Brian Lee's shot past Rudkowsky to finish off the scoring.

Stockton out-shot Phoenix (3-1-0) 42-38. Rudkowsky stopped 38 shots but fell to 2-1-0 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-10 on the power play while Stockton was 3-10 with the man-advantage.

Friday, Brett Lutes collected a hat-trick and the Bakersfield Condors staved off a furious third period rally to defeat the Phoenix RoadRunners 6-5 before 3,097 at US Airways Center.

Bakersfield (3-0-1) jumped out to the early 1-0 lead at 4:55 of the first period when Tim Konsorada beat RoadRunners goalie Nathan Lawson with a wrist shot from inside the right wing circle. The RoadRunners (3-2-0) responded with a pair of power play goals to go on top 2-1. Brian Yandle scored his first goal of the season tapping the pass from Reagan Rome behind Condors goalie Yutaka Fukufuji at 6:08 of the first. Sean O'Connor gave Phoenix their first lead of the night when he shot the puck from behind the net off Fukufuji's back and into the net at 16:51 on a two-man advantage power play.

The Condors started their comeback at 11:00 of the second period as Lutes scored his first of the night re-directing Joe Dustin's point shot past Lawson to tie the game at 2-2. Sean Venedam gave Bakersfield their second lead of the game beating Lawson with a slap shot from outside the left-wing circle at 15:22 of the period. Spencer Carbery made it a 4-2 game 2:34 seconds later scoring a power play goal at 17:56.

Lutes added a second goal at 13:52 of the third period pushing Bakersfield's lead to a commanding 5-2 advantage. The RoadRunners would strike for two goals in a span of 26 second to cut their deficit to one. Yandle tallied his second goal of the game deflecting Scott Kelman's shot by Fukufuji at 15:59, followed by Thatcher Bell beating a screened Fukufuji at 16:25 to cut Bakersfield's edge to 5-4. Lutes completed the hat-trick with an empty-net goal at 18:55, before Justin Maiser capped the scoring at 19:28 burying a centering pass through Fukufuji's pads to give the RoadRunners a chance late.

Phoenix out-shot Bakersfield 35-33. Lawson stopped 27 shots as he fell to 1-1-0 on the season. The RoadRunners went 2-8 on the power play while Bakersfield was 1-6 with the man-advantage.

STRONG STARTS MEAN GOOD ENDINGS: The RoadRunners are 3-0 this season when scoring the first goal and conversely, 0-2 when allowing the first tally. League-wide, ECHL teams are 43-9-4 so far when they score the first goal.

BIG BEGINNINGS: Despite allowing the first goal in their last two outings, the RoadRunners have outscored their opposition 9-3 in first periods through five games this season. Their nine first period goals are second most in the ECHL, and their plus-six goal differential in the opening period is tied for the largest in the league with the Charlotte Checkers. Last season, the RoadRunners were outscored 92-56 in first periods.

THREE'S COMPANY: Forward Sean O'Connor and defenseman Brian Yandle each recorded their first three-point games of the season Friday. O'Connor collected a goal and two assists, while Yandle notched a pair of goals and added an assist. For Yandle, it was his first goal since March 24, 2007 and the first multi-goal game of his professional career. O'Connor and Yandle join Daniel Sisca as the three RoadRunners that have recorded three-point games so far this season. Sisca leads the RoadRunners with three multiple-point outings.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS: The RoadRunners will hit the halfway point of their 12-game season-opening home-stand Thursday when they host Fresno at US Airways Center. Phoenix will not play their first road game until beginning an eight-game road trip Nov. 20 at Las Vegas, and will be the last team in the ECHL to play a contest away from their home arena. The RoadRunners will venture on a 12-game road trip in January becoming the only team in the ECHL to have a 12-game home-stand and a 12-game road trip in the same season.

NEWS & NOTES: Phoenix is 0-2-0 against the Pacific Division following losses to Stockton and Bakersfield, and is now winless against the Pacific in their last six home games dating back to last season...Goaltender Cody Rudkowsky was loaned to Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League Friday. Former NHL net-minder Jamie Ram served as an emergency back-up goalie to starter Nathan Lawson against Bakersfield...Defenseman Jeff Moor made his season debut Friday. Moor opened the season on the seven-day injured reserve...Lawson's goals against average rose from 0.00 to 2.53 after allowing five goals in his second start of the year Friday.

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 continue their season-opening 12-game home-stand at 7:11 p.m. Thursday and Saturday against the Fresno Falcons. Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office. 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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ECHL Stories from October 28, 2007


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