Red Hot 'Runners Make It Five Straight
Published on November 21, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
In meteorological terms, an F5 tornado is about as powerful as they come. The Texas Tornado hockey team blew into Topeka a roaring F5 but left town little more than a low pressure system as the RoadRunners swept the first place Tornado, capping it off with a 5-1 win on Saturday night in front of the largest crowd since Opening Night this year in Landon Arena.
As expected, Texas, whose 15 game win streak had been broken the night before came out with a determined effort. The first period was a scoreless affair as the teams traded 10 shots apiece. Topeka dominated the second period, scoring 3 unanswered goals. The first was punched home by Daniel Dupell who jammed home the loose puck in the crease at 10:22. Michael Hill kept his consecutive games goal streak alive at 5 games when he buried a gorgeous centering pass from Ryan White at 15:09, and Joe Van Antwerp posted his first goal of the season at 18:50 when he carried the puck from his own blue line through center and juked a Texas defenseman just inside their zone and driving down the right wing put a shot in off the body of Tornado goalie Jake Stafford for a 3-0 Topeka lead.
In the third, Topeka extended their lead to 4-0 when again Ryan White slid a beautiful pass in front for Michael Hill who netted his second of the game and 19th of the season at 3:!4. Texas hit the scoresheet at 8:35 when Rock Einersen snapped home a rebound from between the hashmarks, but Topeka answered back for a 5-1 lead when Justin Hussar smoked a shot past Stafford at 15:36 on a feed from behind the net. Rasmus Tirronen looked very sharp early on and made some tremendous saves, stopping 23 of 24 shots in all in picking up his 9th win.
Topeka (13-5-2) owns the leagues longest current win streak at five games. They moved into third place, one point ahead of Amarillo and two points behind Wichita Falls. Next weekend, the Amarillo Bulls (13-4-1) head into Topeka for a two game series as the 'Runners conclude their six game homestand. Game time Friday and Saturday nights is set for 7:05 pm.
North American Hockey League Stories from November 21, 2010
- Stars Rout St. Louis, Take Series - Traverse City North Stars
- Wild Bows In Shootout - Wenatchee Wild
- Red Hot 'Runners Make It Five Straight - Topeka Pilots
- Oh Snap! 'Runners End Tornado Streak - Topeka Pilots
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