Phoenix Power Play Shocks Grizzlies 5-2
by Andrew Nordmeier
Published on February 22, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners
The odds of the Phoenix Roadrunners scoring four power play goals in a game were almost as good was winning the lottery. Phoenix (18-28-3) hit the jackpot on the power play using four power play goals in six chances to beat the Utah Grizzlies (29-20-4) Tuesday night at the US Airways Center and end the Grizzlies' seven-game winning streak.
"We can't be fancy," Phoenix Head Coach Ron Filion said, "Once the guys understood that about a month ago it changed the entire dynamic of our club."
That shift is what has sparked Phoenix to seven wins in its last 11 games but still sits 23 points behind Utah for the final playoff spot.
"Utah's a team that we have to jump by if we're going to make the playoffs," Phoenix defenseman Dave Cousineau said, "It's good to get a convincing win against them."
Phoenix's power play had been limping along going just 2-for-35 in its last eight games before Tuesday night's breakout performance that made the night for Utah netminder Justin Eddy totally miserable. The Roadrunners traded goals with Grizzlies in the first period with Cousineau scoring a critical goal with 0.3 seconds left in the first frame.
With a draw to the right of Eddy, Justin Quenneville won it for Phoenix. He zipped it over to Miguel LaFleche and LaFleche tipped it over to Cousineau. Cousineau, knowing the horn was about to sound to end the period, teed it up and found the back of the net for his third goal of the season.
"I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. It wasn't really a set play," Cousineau said, "Sometimes the puck bounces your way."
Phoenix carried the momentum from that goal into the second period and scored three more times to erase any doubt on the outcome.
Cousineau struck again 5:49 into the second for the eventual game-winning goal. Just 15 seconds later, Ben Knopp scored for Phoenix by slipping the puck between Eddy's pads to put Phoenix up by a pair. The two goals are the quickest pair of tallies in Phoenix history. Shawn Snider scored the Roadrunners' lone even-strength goal when he cashed in on a pretty tic-tac-toe play and tapped the puck past Eddy for his ninth goal of the season.
"We adjusted our focus between the periods and guys came out with a desire to win in the second and third period," Filion said, "They knew their effort (in the first period) was not going to enough to win against Utah."
Louis Dumont opened the scoring at 13:15 when he broke in behind the Phoenix defense and beat Roadrunners' netminder Michael Mole along the ice. Phoenix answered back with Mike Ouellet's eighth goal of the season at 16:26, the first of four straight power-play conversions for Phoenix. He took a centering pass from Shaun Fisher and slipped the puck past Eddy to knot the game at 1-1.
Former Roadrunner Ed Hill scored for Utah to give the Grizzlies their last lead of the game at 2-1 with his sixth goal of the season. Hill's long bomb from the point eluded Mole's glove at 17:15 setting up Cousineau's goal which sparked Phoenix's run of four straight scores to the win.
Phoenix outshot Utah 42-34. The Grizzlies finished 1-of-6 on the power play. Phoenix has a day off before hosting San Diego Friday, visiting Long Beach Saturday and hosting Utah again Sunday to close out the month of February.
"This win is definitely sweet because this is the team we're chasing," Filion said, "Utah has proven to be a top hockey club and it's always nice to measure yourself to a top team."
Three Stars
3. Henley-PHX Strong physical play
2.Ouellet-PHX Goal and an assist
1. Cousineau-PHX Two goals and an assist
Notes: Phoenix allowed the first goal for the 35th time this season and posted just its 8th win when doing so; Utah fell to 21-6-2 when scoring first...Phoenix is 9-0-1 when leading after two periods this season. Only Stockton (4-0-2) has led fewer times through two periods with just six instances...Phoenix improved to 2-5-0 in three-goal games, their other three-goal win was a 3-0 shutout of Alaska January 10th...Utah is 0-4-0 on the road on Tuesdays...Attendance was 3,254.
ECHL Stories from February 22, 2006
- Phoenix Power Play Shocks Grizzlies 5-2 - OSC Original by Andrew Nordmeier
- Aces weekend preview at Victoria - Alaska Aces
- Murphy returns from AHL - Fresno Falcons
- I went to a hockey game and a fight broke out - Bakersfield Condors
- Teixeira traded to Gwinnett for future considerations - Charlotte Checkers
- ECHL Olympic Update For February 22 - ECHL
- Gladiators Add Two - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Practices At ipayOne Center Scheudled for Friday And Saturday - San Diego Gulls
- Toledo Makes More Moves - Toledo Walleye
- Grrrowl acquire Bonello from Storm - Greenville Grrrowl
- Chad Wagner, Taj Melson Back In the Lineup - San Diego Gulls
- America One Game Of The Week Is Wheeling At Toledo - ECHL
- Condors Honor Olympics, Raise Over $23,000 - Bakersfield Condors
- Original ECHL Member Hosts Kelly Cup Tour - ECHL
- Rudkowsky Makes Second Trip to Bridgeport - Reading Royals
- Sgt. Slaughter Highlights Chiefs U.S. Army Weekend - Johnstown Chiefs
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Landolt Shines In Close Game - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- 13 Is Lucky In Las Vegas - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Wranglers Fall to Victoria in Overtime - Las Vegas Wranglers
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
