RoadRunners Blank Condors 5-0
December 30, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. - John McNabb scored a hat trick and Craig Kowalski had a shutout as they led the Phoenix RoadRunners over the Bakersfield Condors 5-0 Tuesday night in front of 3,337 fans at US Airways Center.
The RoadRunners (13-13-3) opened up scoring at 14:09 of the first period when McNabb scored top-shelf on Condor goalie Ryan Nie from the left circle off a rebound from Ashton Rome. Gino Guyer had the other assist as Phoenix took a 1-0 lead. Rome gave the RoadRunners a 2-0 lead with 38 seconds left in the period when he scored from the slot from Brett Peterson and McNabb. Phoenix would take the two-goal lead into the first intermission as they out-shot the Condors (11-15-4) 23-9.
"Defensively we've been pretty strong the last five games," RoadRunners Head Coach Brad Church said. "We've put an emphasis on the start of the game and put a lot of pucks on net and that's made a big difference."
At 6:56 of the second period McNabb gave the RoadRunners a 3-0 lead when he scored from Rome and Guyer to the right of Nie. McNabb then completed the hat trick with 17 seconds left in the second when he scored off a face-off win by Kimbi Daniels, giving Phoenix a 4-0 lead to take into the locker room after two periods.
"We brought (McNabb) here to produce," Church said. "It's nice to see him break out of his slump and it's a good sign for the team."
The RoadRunners took a commanding 5-0 lead in the third period when Daniels scored at 13:46. Daniel Sisca and Matt Burke assisted as that would be the final score.
"We're collectively focused on keeping the shot count (against us) down," Church said, adding that the goaltenders have been playing well. "We're controlling the neutral zone better and our defense has been strong."
Phoenix out-shot Bakersfield 45-27. Kowalski improved to 10-9-1 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-4 on the power play while Bakersfield was 0-3 with the man-advantage.
The RoadRunners' two-game series Friday and Saturday at Fresno has been cancelled due to the suspending of operations by the Falcons.
Phoenix returns to US Airways Center at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6 when they welcome the Stockton Thunder for a two-game series.
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