Phoenix Outlasts Idaho 7-5

by Andrew Nordmeier
Published on January 13, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners


In the ECHL's transaction list you frequently see the adding and deleting of emergency backup goaltenders. Most of the backups wind up sitting on the bench and are there just in case something happens.

For Tim Baumgartner of the Idaho Steelheads something did happen Saturday night at the US Airways Center in Phoenix. The Phoenix resident was pressed into service and made his professional debut in the Roadrunners 7-5 win over Idaho.

Baumgartner, an employee of Avis, was pressed into service following a brawl at the end of the first period that led to 128 penalty minutes and seven ejections. The brawl was sparked by a fight between Phoenix's Dave Pszczenczy and Idaho's Taggart Desmet at the end of the period with Idaho leading 4-2. It quickly escalated and the critical moment came when Phoenix netminder Cody Rudkowsky left his crease, stormed all the way down the ice and assaulted Steelheads goaltender Jon Daigenau. Daigneau left the game short one tooth after being down on the ice for several minutes following the Rudkowsky beatdown.

Phoenix (19-16-1-1) took advantage of Baumgartner's lack of professional experience and scored five of the game's final six goals to pick up the win over 19-15-1-1 Idaho.

"It feels good that we got the win. But I am not totally happy with the way we played. We allowed 44 shots so we didn't outplay Idaho," Phoenix Head Coach Ron Filion said, "We didn't play a great game but we finally got a win and we're happy with it."

J.B. Bittner and Marty Flichel each scored twice for Idaho while Todd Jackson and Jake Ortmeyer each tallied twice for Phoenix. Ortmeyer scored the game-winning goal on a power play with 1:38 left in the third period. His missile of a slapshot from the point found the net behind Baumgartner to put Phoenix ahead 6-5. Jeff Kyrzakos added an empty-netter with 35 seconds left to close the scoring.

These two teams get a few well-deserved days off as the ECHL heads into its All-Star Break. But, after beating on each other five times in a 10-day span, these two teams start right back up after the All-Star Break with two games in Idaho Jan. 19 and 20.

"For us it feels like a playoff series," Filion said, "We're tied with them in second place so the next two games are just huge for both teams."

Three Stars of the Night

3. Jackson-PHX Two goals

2. Smith-PHX Goal and an assist

1. Ortmeyer-PHX Two goals including game winner

Notes: Idaho outshot Phoenix 44-25...Baumgartner stopped Brett Smith on a penalty shot 7:06 into second period for his first professional save...Phoenix finished 3-of-5 on the power play while Idaho went 4-of-9...Attendance was a franchise-best 7,096.

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ECHL Stories from January 13, 2007


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