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AHL Tucson Roadrunners

Roadrunners Blank Opponent 4-0 Again

January 13, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Tucson Roadrunners News Release


Abbotsford Canucks' Nick Cicek and Tucson Roadrunners' Hunter Drew on the ice
Abbotsford Canucks' Nick Cicek and Tucson Roadrunners' Hunter Drew on the ice
(Tucson Roadrunners, Credit: Abbotsford Canucks)

ABBOTSFORD, BC - The weather was cold in Abbotsford but the desert living Tucson Roadrunners were hot as they defeated the Abbotsford Canucks 4-0 on Friday night to improve to 21-10-1-1 on the year from the Abbotsford Centre.

The Roadrunners ventured up north for a two-game series with the Abbotsford Canucks in the sub-freezing temps and came out scorching hot; recording their second consecutive shutout, for the second time in team history, and scoring a goal in the first, the second, and two in the third. In the first, it was Ben McCartney getting things started for the good guys. At the 12:48 mark McCartney would break the 0-0 tie with assists from Josh Doan and Jan Jenik. With Dylan Guenther being up with the Coyotes, Josh Doan has taken over as the team's leading scorer with 13 goals and nine assists. The stingy Tucson defense would hold Abbotsford to just six shots in the frame. This is the ninth time in seven games that Tucson has held their opponent to six shots or less in a period.

An early Abbotsford tripping minor in the second would put Tucson on the power-play. Tucson, who has now scored on nine of 33 power-play attempts in their last nine games, took advantage of the man-advantage and scored the second goal of the night. Austin Poganski scored, bringing his season goal total to five. The Poganski power-play goal would be the only scoring of the period and after 40 minutes in British Columbia, Tucson led 2-0.

In the third period, it was more of the same from Tucson, good offense and offensive chances and stellar goaltender play from Matthew Villalta and the Roadrunners defense. Abbotsford only tallied 10 shots in the third and Villalta was a perfect 30/30 on the night. With Dylan Wells' shutout on Saturday, January 6th, and Villalta's shutout on Friday night it was the second time in team history with back-to-back shutouts, and first time in team history with different goaltenders recording shutouts in consecutive games. In addition, it marked the first time in team history that Tucson has recorded back-to-back shutouts on the road. It took about half of the period for Tucson to pull away and add their final two goals of the contest. At the 10:14 mark in the third it would be Jan Jenik scoring his ninth of the year. Jenik was assisted by Peter Diliberatore and Ben McCartney. 90 seconds later it would be Justin Kirkland lighting the lamp for Tucson and giving the Roadrunners a 4-0 lead. Kirkland would shoot the puck off the goalies back and in capping off a night where a lot went right for the boys in that Roadrunner red.

Tucson will square off again on Saturday night at the Abbotsford Centre before returning home on Monday, January 15th against the Iowa Wild at the Tucson Arena.

"That was a big win for us, this is a tough place to play in this barn here in Abbotsford. We had a good week of practice and it really translated. We'll look to do the same thing tomorrow, we know it's going to be a little bit tighter" said Forward Austin Poganski after Tucson's 4-0 victory on Friday night.

Check out the Tucson Roadrunners Statistics




Images from this story

Abbotsford Canucks' Nick Cicek and Tucson Roadrunners' Hunter Drew on the ice
Abbotsford Canucks' Nick Cicek and Tucson Roadrunners' Hunter Drew on the ice
(Abbotsford Canucks)		   



American Hockey League Stories from January 13, 2024


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