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Phoenix RoadRunners Week In Review

January 14, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


'RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners won just once in four outings against their Pacific Division rivals defeating Bakersfield on Tuesday, but losing Friday and Sunday at Fresno and Saturday against the Condors. With a record of 13-18-6 and 32 points, the RoadRunners are currently fifth in the West Division and eighth overall in the National Conference.

Tuesday, Cody Rudkowsky turned aside 47 shots to pitch his 17th career shutout and lift the Phoenix RoadRunners to a 4-0 victory over the Bakersfield Condors before 4,196 at Rabobank Arena.

Phoenix (13-15-6) jumped out to a quick 2-0 first period lead with a pair of goals scored 14 seconds apart. Sean O'Connor opened the scoring with his team-leading 17th goal of the season and his first of two on the night as he collected his own rebound and stuffed the puck through the pads of Bakersfield goalie Yutaka Fukufuji at 5:31. Chris Stevens almost immediately added a second goal as off the ensuing face-off, Daniel Sisca set up the rookie at the left-wing circle, and Stevens worked the puck around Fukufuji and into the net at 5:45 of the period.

Despite being out-shot 28-12 in the second period and facing four Bakersfield (8-20-6) power plays, including a five-on-three advantage, the RoadRunners were the team that found the back of the net. O'Connor tallied his second goal of the game when he re-directed Peder Skinner's long shot from the left point in between Fukufuji's pads and into the cage at 13:24 of the period on the power play to stretch the RoadRunners lead to 3-0.

Justin Maiser added a fourth goal at 4:02 of the third period to account for the final scoring.

Bakersfield out-shot Phoenix 47-41. Rudkowsky improved to 7-10-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-8 on the power play while Bakersfield was 0-9 with the man-advantage.

Friday, Mike Ramsay tallied a pair of goals to lift the Fresno Falcons to a 5-2 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 10,669 at the Save Mart Center.

Fresno (19-9-4) jumped out to a quick 2-0 first period lead. P-O Beaulieu opened the scoring at 9:52 when he lifted Josh Ciocco's rebound over the left shoulder of RoadRunners goalie Cody Rudkowsky and into the net for the game's first tally. Ramsay was later awarded a penalty shot off a hooking penalty from Ian Turner, and he converted beating Rudkowsky along the ice at 18:16 of the period.

The Falcons built their lead to four goals scoring twice in the opening 11 minutes of the second period. Oren Eizenman found an open Matt Stefanishion at the left-wing circle, and Stefanishion whipped a shot past Rudkowsky at 7:04. Ramsay scored his second goal of the night off a turnover at the Fresno blue line. Ramsay took the puck off a RoadRunners' defensemen's stick, skated the length of the ice, and snuck a backhand shot inside the far post and into the net at 10:20. Phoenix (13-16-6) would counter with the final two goals of the period. Chris Murray got the RoadRunners on the scoreboard when he beat Fresno goalie Jake Moreland from the slot at 12:21 on the power play. Ryan Walsh cut the Falcons lead to 4-2 scoring a breakaway goal at 16:43 of the second.

Jarrett Konkle scored his 16th goal of the season 1:33 into the third period to close out the scoring.

Fresno out-shot Phoenix 45-23. Rudkowsky stopped 40 shots but fell to 7-11-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-5 on the power play while Fresno was 0-7 with the man-advantage.

Saturday, Kevin Truelson broke a 2-2 tie at 10:19 of the third period with a four-on-three power play goal to propel the Bakersfield Condors to a 3-2 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 6,164 at Rabobank Arena.

Phoenix (13-17-6) and Bakersfield (9-20-6) each traded a pair of goals in the first period. The RoadRunners opened the scoring just 3:57 into the game when Scott Kelman stole a clearing attempt and moved a backhand shot behind Bakersfield goalie Michel Robinson for a 1-0 lead. The Condors promptly scored the next two goals to take a 2-1 advantage. Mark Derlago collected his own rebound in the slot and beat RoadRunners goalie Cody Rudkowsky along the ice at 11:49 to tie the score at 1-1. Bakersfield grabbed their first lead of the night just minutes later when Corey LeClair inadvertently played the puck into his own net. Jason Kostadine was credited with his second goal of the season at 14:43. But the RoadRunners responded as Reagan Rome beat Robinson with a one-time slap shot from the right point at 17:33 on a five-on-three power play to tie the contest at 2-2 going into the intermission.

The game would remain tied at 2-2 until the third period when the Condors were awarded a power play. Tim Konsorada fed Truelson at the left point, and Truelson ripped a one-time slap shot past Rudkowsky for the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal.

Phoenix out-shot Bakersfield 40-36. Rudkowsky stopped 33 shots but fell to 7-12-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-8 on the power play while Bakersfield was 1-6 with the man-advantage.

Sunday, Matt Quinn tallied two goals and added an assist, and goaltender Jake Moreland stopped all 24 shots he saw to lead the Fresno Falcons to a 6-0 shutout victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 3,682 at the Save Mart Center.

Like they did Friday, Fresno (20-9-4) jumped out to an early lead when Tyler Kindle found an open Matt Stefanishion in front of the net, and Stefanishion tapped the puck by RoadRunners goalie Cody Rudkowsky at 2:57 of the first period for the game's first tally.

The Falcons blew the game open with a three-goal second period. Brady Leisenring opened the scoring at 1:42 of the period on the power play when he was credited with a goal that was kicked into the net by a RoadRunners' skate. On the ensuing face-off, Leisenring set up Igor Gongalsky at the front of the cage, and Gongalsky stuffed the puck through Rudkowsky's pads at 2:11 giving the Falcons a 3-0 lead. Quinn capped off the Fresno scoring attack when he stole Rudkowsky's clearing attempt on a RoadRunners power play, and worked the puck around the Phoenix net-minder and into the cage at 14:07 for a shorthanded goal and a commanding 4-0 advantage.

Quinn added his second goal of the game at 16:47 of the third period, and Kenny Benard scored at 18:39 to complete the scoring for the night.

Fresno out-shot Phoenix (13-18-6) 36-24. Rudkowsky stopped 30 shots but fell to 7-13-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-5 on the power play while Fresno was 1-8 with the man-advantage.

FIRST HALF WRAP: The RoadRunners concluded the first half of the regular season Saturday at Bakersfield. Phoenix was 13-17-6 in their opening 36 games going 8-9-1 at home at 5-8-5 on the road. With 111 goals, the RoadRunners had the ECHL's 16th best offense averaging 3.08 goals per game. Phoenix's power play was ranked tied for 10th in the league with an 18.6% efficiency rate. Their penalty kill finished just outside the top ten surrendering only 36 goals and converting at 84%, good for 11th in the ECHL. Center Daniel Sisca led the RoadRunners in scoring and ranked tied for 15th in the ECHL scoring race with nine goals and 37 points in 35 games. For comparative purposes, the RoadRunners were 10-23-3 through the first 36 games during their inaugural 2005-06 season and 18-16-2 through 36 games in 2006-07.

BEST IN THE WEST: Last week's 2-1-1 record against division rivals Idaho and Alaska left the RoadRunners with a 7-5-6 mark against the West Division through the first half of the regular season. On the flip side, Phoenix is just 6-13-0 against teams from the Pacific Division. In the second half of the year, the RoadRunners will play 19 games against teams from the West and 17 games against teams from the Pacific.

KELMAN A MODEL OF CONSISTENCY: Center Scott Kelman has three goals and seven points in nine games since returning to the RoadRunners' line-up. The sixth-year professional and Winnipeg, Manitoba native missed 13 games due to injury. Despite missing a considerable length of time, Kelman ranks sixth on the club in scoring with five goals and 18 points in 23 games.

PENALTY KILL SUCCESS: The RoadRunners have killed off 29 of their opponents' last 31 chances on the power play over the last four games, good for an impressive 93.5% conversion rate.

NEWS & NOTES: Forward Sean O'Connor skated in his 250th career game Saturday at Bakersfield...Prior to Sunday's shutout loss, the RoadRunners had tallied a power play goal in five consecutive games going 7-33 (21.1%) during that stretch...Defenseman Chris Murray scored his first professional goal Friday at Fresno...Goalie Dave McKee was loaned to Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League Friday. It's McKee's second stint in the AHL this season after starting the year with the Iowa Stars.

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-long 12-game road trip with a three-game series at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday against the Utah Grizzlies from the "E"-Center in West Valley City, Utah. Catch Friday's and Saturday's game live on Independent 1310 KXAM, and all three contests 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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