Phoenix RoadRunners Week In Review#21

March 10, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


PHOENIX, Ariz. - WEEK RECORD 1-0-1 - SEASON RECORD 20-33-8 - 5TH WEST DIVISION

‘RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners captured three of a possible four points with a win Thursday over Bakersfield and an overtime loss Saturday at Las Vegas. With a record of 20-33-8 and 48 points, the RoadRunners are currently fifth in the West Division and eighth overall in the National Conference. Phoenix is three points behind Stockton for seventh and three points ahead of Bakersfield who is currently in ninth place. The Condors have one game in hand over the RoadRunners while the Thunder has played two fewer games.

Thursday, Daniel Sisca and Dusty Jamieson each tallied a goal and added two assists to lead the Phoenix RoadRunners to a 5-4 win over the Bakersfield Condors before 3,205 at US Airways Center.

A high-octane first period produced five goals in total. The RoadRunners (20-33-7) jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead scoring twice in the first nine minutes. Jamieson opened the scoring just 2:37 into the contest when he found himself wide open in the slot and snapped a shot behind Bakersfield goalie Yutaka Fukufuji for a 1-0 lead. Jamieson then set up the next RoadRunners goal at 8:11 on the power play lifting a beautiful pass to Peder Skinner at the right-wing circle, and Skinner did the rest beating an out-stretched Fukufuji for the tally and a 2-0 advantage. The Condors (17-32-9) came right back to tie the contest at 2-2 with a pair of goals 56 seconds apart. Andrew Ianiero got Bakersfield on the scoreboard when he put Alexander Naurov's rebound over the shoulder of RoadRunners goalie Taylor Dakers at 11:02 on the power play. Jay Langager then netted the equalizer at 11:58 when he beat Dakers with a shot from the left wall. Ianiero scored his second goal of the period late in the first at 18:52 on the power play giving the Condors a 3-2 lead after twenty minutes.

The RoadRunners didn't waver as they started the second period with three goals in the opening nine minutes of play. Sean O'Connor tied the game at 3-3 when he collected Skinner's rebound in front of the net and jammed it by Fukufuji just 1:46 into the period. Sisca gave Phoenix a lead they would not relinquish just 57 seconds later at 2:43 shooting the puck from the end-line off Fukufuji's skate and into the net. Mitch Carefoot built the RoadRunners advantage to 5-3 when he beat Fukufuji with a shot over the net-minder's glove at 8:02 of the period.

Bakersfield got one back in the third period when Brett Lutes finished off a two-on-one play at 5:51 to cut the RoadRunners lead to 5-4, but Dakers shut the door the rest of the way to preserve the win.

Bakersfield out-shot Phoenix 34-30. Dakers stopped 30 shots to improve to 2-1-0 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-5 on the power play while Bakersfield was 2-6 with the man-advantage.

Saturday, Peter Ferraro tallied the equalizer with 33 seconds remaining in regulation, and Ryan Donally netted the game-winning goal 3:51 into overtime to lift the Las Vegas Wranglers to a 3-2 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 6,546 at the Orleans Arena.

Phoenix (20-33-8) jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead when Ryan Walsh's centering pass in front of the net deflected off a Wranglers' skate and trickled behind Las Vegas goalie Daniel Manzato at 1:45 of the first period.

Las Vegas (38-11-12) evened the score at 1-1 at 11:12 of the second period when rookie Adam Cracknell intercepted goalie Taylor Dakers' clearing attempt and slapped the puck behind Dakers and into the net. But the RoadRunners re-gained the lead minutes later as Taylor Christie's rebound kicked back out to Peder Skinner and Skinner slapped it by Manzato at 14:18 for a 2-1 advantage.

It would remain that way until the final minute of regulation. With Manzato pulled for the extra attacker, Ferraro won a one-on-one battle at the left wing circle and lifted a shot past Dakers at 19:27 to tie the score at 2-2 to send the contest to overtime and set up Donally's dramatics.

Las Vegas out-shot Phoenix 43-21. Dakers stopped a career-best 40 shots but fell to 2-2-0 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-1 on the power play while Las Vegas was 0-4 with the man-advantage.

SLOW AND STEADY: With a three-point week, the RoadRunners gained a point up on both Bakersfield and Stockton in the National Conference playoff race pulling three points ahead of the Condors and to within three points of seventh place Stockton. The Thunder has played two fewer games than Phoenix and will make those up in a stretch of five games in nine nights beginning Friday. Bakersfield will play their game in hand Monday against Idaho. The RoadRunners' magic number for clinching their second straight playoff berth is 22. Any combination of points earned in Phoenix wins and overtime or shootout losses and points surrendered by Bakersfield in regulation losses and overtime or shootout losses equaling 22 will clinch a playoff berth for the RoadRunners.

LINING THEM UP: The RoadRunners top line of Dusty Jamieson, Daniel Sisca, and Mitch Carefoot have combined for six goals, eight assists, 14 points, and a plus-nine rating in their last three games. Jamieson has three goals and two assists, Sisca has two goals and two assists, and Carefoot has a goal and four assists.

ONE-GOAL LAPSE? Phoenix suffered a rare defeat in a one-goal game with their 3-2 overtime loss Saturday at Las Vegas. The RoadRunners had won four out of their last five one-goal games before Saturday, and overall are 10-4-8 in one-goal games. Phoenix has not dropped a one-goal game in regulation time since a 6-5 loss at Utah on Jan. 18.

MILESTONES ON DECK: Defenseman Ian Turner is six points shy of 100 for his career... Center Daniel Sisca is six points shy of the 200 point plateau. Sisca played in his 200th career game Thursday...Defenseman Brian Nathe is five games away from 250...Center Ryan Walsh played in his 100th career game Thursday.

NEWS & NOTES: Daniel Sisca is just one point shy of tying the RoadRunners' ECHL single-season points total currently held by Justin Aikins. Sisca has a team-leading 56 points with 17 goals and 39 assists...Forward Sean O'Connor has a new career-high with 24 goals, and is three short of matching the RoadRunners' ECHL single-season record...Center Thatcher Bell participated in on-ice workouts Saturday at Las Vegas for the first time since suffering an injury on Feb. 15 at Idaho.

FACE-OFF AGAINST KIDS CANCER CONCLUDES FRIDAY: The Phoenix RoadRunners' second "Face-Off Against Kids Cancer" will culminate at 7:11 p.m. Friday when the RoadRunners take the ice against the Victoria Salmon Kings wearing special commemorative jerseys dedicated to those Phoenix Children's patients participating in the program. These jerseys will be auctioned off immediately after the game with the proceeds benefiting the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Phoenix Children's Hospital and Caps For Kids, a national non-profit organization which provides hats autographed by athletes and celebrities to children who lose their hair due to the effects of chemotherapy.

For more information or to find out how you can donate to the "Face-Off Against Kids Cancer", contact the RoadRunners at (602) 379-7870.

FINAL SUNDAY SKATE WITH THE ROADRUNNERS: Don't miss your last chance to skate with the Phoenix RoadRunners Sunday following their game against the Victoria Salmon Kings. Bring your own skates and join the team for an hour of fun on the ice. A reminder that Sunday's start time is a 5:00 p.m. face-off.

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 2007-08. 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 72 RoadRunners broadcasts will be available on-line. A cable or DSL Internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 are required to view the games.

UP NEXT: The RoadRunners welcome the Victoria Salmon Kings to US Airways Center for a two-game series at 7:11 p.m. Friday and at 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online at ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office. Catch all the action of both games live on Independent 1310 KXAM and 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.

PHOENIX ROADRUNNERS SCHEDULE WEEK OF MARCH 10TH

Monday, Mar. 10: Off Day

Tuesday, Mar. 11: Practice 10AM-11:30AM @ Alltel Ice Den

Wednesday, Mar. 12: Practice 10AM-11:30AM @ Alltel Ice Den

Thursday, Mar. 13: Practice 10AM-11:30AM @ Alltel Ice Den

Friday, Mar. 14: Morning skate 10AM-11AM; Phoenix vs. Victoria 7:11PM

Saturday, Mar. 15: Practice TBA

Sunday, Mar. 16: Morning skate 10AM-11AM; Phoenix vs. Victoria 7:11PM



ECHL Stories from March 10, 2008


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