Playoff Berth Comes Down To Final Week

Published on March 31, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


PHOENIX, Ariz. - WEEK RECORD 1-2-0 - SEASON RECORD 23-37-9 - 5TH WEST DIVISION

‘RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners dealt the Alaska Aces just their 19th loss in regulation in the last three seasons at Sullivan Arena Saturday to keep pace in the National Conference playoff race. With a record of 23-37-9 and 55 points, the RoadRunners are currently tied for eighth overall in the National Conference with the Stockton Thunder entering the final week of the regular season. Stockton has played one fewer game than the RoadRunners. Both teams trail the seventh seeded Bakersfield Condors by two points.

Wednesday, goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu stopped 27 of 28 shots and Josh Soares and Michael Lambert each scored to lead the Alaska Aces to a 2-1 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 4,199 at Sullivan Arena.

Following a scoreless first period and the first 10 minutes of the second, Alaska (39-23-5) finally broke the ice when Matt Shasby feathered a pass to Josh Soares in the slot, and Soares snapped a shot behind RoadRunners goalie Taylor Dakers at 10:10 of the period for a 1-0 lead. The Aces stretched their lead to two as Michael Lambert scored at 18:48 on the power play.

With time running out, the RoadRunners (22-36-9) finally put a puck through Beckford-Tseu as Sean O'Connor re-directed Ian Turner's shot through the pads of the Aces goalie and into the net at 18:51 of the third period. Phoenix pulled Dakers for the extra attacker for the final 1:09 and also had a power play to work with as well, but the RoadRunners were unable to net the equalizer.

Phoenix out-shot Alaska 28-27. Dakers stopped 25 shots but fell to 4-4-2 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-3 on the power play while Alaska was 1-1 with the man-advantage.

Friday, Taylor Christie and Sean O'Connor each scored in the final five minutes of regulation, but the Phoenix RoadRunners could not complete the comeback falling to the Alaska Aces 3-2 before 5,851 at Sullivan Arena.

Alaska (40-23-5) jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead and never looked back. Kimbi Daniels opened the scoring at 12:13 when he received a feed in the slot from F-P Guenette and perfectly placed a shot over the left glove of RoadRunners goalie Taylor Dakers and into the net for a 1-0 advantage. Josh Soares extended the lead to two goals scoring a shorthanded tally with 0.7 seconds remaining in the period with the RoadRunners on the power play.

Matt Robinson made it 3-0 8:25 into the second period scoring his 18th goal of the season after Guenette dropped the puck off to right-wing circle and Robinson slipped it past Dakers along the ice.

The RoadRunners (22-37-9) appeared to be running out of time until Gino Guyer forced a turnover at the Phoenix line with Alaska on the power play. Guyer took the puck the other way, got a shot off on Alaska goalie Mike Brown, and Christie picked up the rebound and plucked it into the net for a shorthanded goal at 16:39 of the third period to cut the deficit to 3-1. O'Connor made things even more interesting when he re-directed Mitch Carefoot's drive from the half wall over Brown's shoulder and in at 19:54 to pull the RoadRunners to within one goal, but that's as close as they would come as Alaska drove the ensuing face-off down the other end of the ice to run out the final seconds.

Phoenix out-shot Alaska 36-33. Dakers stopped 30 shots but fell to 4-5-2 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-4 on the power play while Alaska was also 0-4 with the man-advantage.

Saturday, the Phoenix RoadRunners used two second period power play goals and 34 saves from goalie Taylor Dakers to fend off the Alaska Aces 3-2 before 6,451 at Sullivan Arena.

Following a scoreless first period, the RoadRunners (23-37-9) jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a pair of second period power play goals. Dusty Jamieson opened the scoring 29 seconds into the period when he received a perfect cross-ice pass from Rob Dmytruk and fired a shot over the left shoulder of Alaska goalie Chris Beckford-Tseu for a 1-0 lead. After Dmytruk had a goal disallowed on a five-on-three power play, the RoadRunners eventually stretched the margin to two when Taylor Christie found a wide open Gino Guyer down low, and Guyer worked the puck around Beckford-Tseu and into the cage at 9:28 on the man-advantage.

Alaska (40-24-5) fought back early in the third period as Matt Robinson tipped home Matt Shasby's feed in front at 1:17 to cut the RoadRunners lead to 2-1. Phoenix regained their two-goal advantage though right after an Aces power play expired. Chris Stevens fired a shot from the right-wing boards through Beckford-Tseu at 6:31 for a 3-1 lead and the eventual game-winner. Josh Soares got one back for the Aces at 15:46, but it would not be enough as the RoadRunners would hang on for the win.

Alaska out-shot Phoenix 36-32. Dakers improved to 5-5-2 on the season. The RoadRunners went 2-9 on the power play while Alaska was 0-5 with the man-advantage.

JUST WIN BABY: The RoadRunners formula for clinching a second consecutive Kelly Cup Playoff berth this week is simple: win all three games and win Thursday's regular season home finale against Bakersfield in regulation. Three victories would give Phoenix 26 wins and 61 points. If Bakersfield won their remaining two games, they too would have 26 wins and 61 points equaling the RoadRunners. In that scenario, a tie-breaker formula would be used and the RoadRunners would win out because of the second tie-breaker which is head-to-head points. Phoenix currently leads the season series against Bakersfield four games to three, and thus leads the head-to-head point total eight to six. If the RoadRunners lose any of their remaining games or if they afford Bakersfield a point Thursday, they will need help from the Condors and Thunder.

THREE TEAMS BUT ONLY TWO SPOTS: The RoadRunners (55 points), Stockton Thunder (55 points), and Bakersfield Condors (57 points) are fighting for the last two playoff sports in the National Conference. Stockton currently has the edge having played one fewer game than both Phoenix and Bakersfield. The Thunder opens a four-game season-ending road trip Tuesday at Fresno, and then wraps up the season with three games in three nights Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at Utah. Bakersfield hosts Utah Monday and then finishes on the road Thursday at Phoenix and Friday at Las Vegas. The RoadRunners host Las Vegas Tuesday and Bakersfield Thursday, and wraps up their third season in the ECHL Saturday at Las Vegas.

OFFENSE RETURNS TO LIFE: The RoadRunners' stagnant offense finally awoke Saturday striking for three goals in Alaska. Prior to Dusty Jamieson's power play goal in the second period, the RoadRunners had been held off the scoreboard for 254:03 seconds of a possible 260 minutes dating back to their March 18 game against Fresno. Jamieson's goal also was the first scored in a period other than the third in five games and the first time that Phoenix scored the opening goal since a March 16 win against Victoria.

PENALTY KILL RECORD SNAPPED: The RoadRunners' ECHL club record of 31 consecutive penalties killed off came to an end Wednesday with Michael Lambert's power play goal. Prior to that, Phoenix had not allowed a power play goal since March 6 against Bakersfield. Lambert's power play goal was the only one allowed by the RoadRunners all week, and Phoenix enters play Tuesday have killed off 40 of their opponents last 41 power plays.

NEWS & NOTES: Defenseman Rob Dymtruk collected his first professional point with an assist Saturday. Dmytruk was later denied his first professional goal in the same game after the tally was waived off in the second period on a five-on-three power play due to a player being in the crease...Forward Nathan Gillies returned to the RoadRunners' line-up Wednesday for the first time since Feb. 18, but re-aggravated his ankle and missed the remainder of the series. Gillies has played in just 11 games with the RoadRunners being acquired from Charlotte, and has missed 16 of the club's last 17 games...Center Gino Guyer finished with three goals and 11 points in the eight-game season series against his former team, the Alaska Aces.

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 Las Vegas Wranglers Tuesday and the Bakersfield Condors Thursday to US Airways Center. Both contests start at 7:11 p.m. Phoenix concludes their third season in the ECHL at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Las Vegas. 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 Thursday and Saturday's action on Independent 1310 KXAM and all three games live 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 31ST

Monday, Mar. 31: Practice 11:30AM-1PM @ Alltel Ice Den

Tuesday, April 1: Morning skate 10AM-11AM; Phoenix vs. Las Vegas 7:11PM

Wednesday, April 2: Practice 10AM-11:30AM @ Alltel Ice Den

Thursday, April 3: Morning skate 10AM-11AM; Phoenix vs. Bakersfield 7:11PM

Friday, April 4: Travel day to Las Vegas

Saturday, April 5: Morning skate 11:15AM-12:15PM; Phoenix @ Las Vegas 7:05PM

Sunday, April 6: Travel day to Phoenix; End of regular season

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