RoadRunners come up empty

Published on November 6, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


PHOENIX, Ariz. - WEEK RECORD 0-2-0 - SEASON RECORD 3-5-0 - T-3RD WEST DIVISION

'RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners opened their 36-game road schedule last weekend but came up empty following a 6-3 loss Friday at Fresno and a 3-2 loss Saturday at Stockton. With a record of 3-5-0 and six points, the RoadRunners are tied for third in the West Division and tied for seventh in the National Conference with the Utah Grizzlies.

Friday, the Fresno Falcons used three first period goals and held on to defeat the Phoenix RoadRunners 6-3 before 3,874 at the Save Mart Center.

Fresno (5-1-0) wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. John Morlang found Josh Prudden with a cross-ice pass on the first shift of the game and Prudden beat RoadRunners goaltender Kevin Reiter with a shot from the left wing circle 22 seconds into the first period to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. Brady Leisenring increased the lead to 2-0 with a great individual effort moving from the left-wing corner to the front of the net and sliding the puck by Reiter at 5:39. Morlang gave Fresno a 3-0 first period cushion as he scored on a shorthanded breakaway at 17:49 to end Reiter's night.

The RoadRunners (3-4-0) clawed to within two in the second period as Dave Pszenyczny tallied his first goal as a professional on a wraparound move at 10:42 on the power play to make it a 3-1 hockey game.

Prudden tallied his second of the game with a power play goal to open the third period at 5:46 to extend Fresno's lead back to three at 4-1. Phoenix would fight back to within a single goal however with a pair of power play goals from Alexandre Rouleau at 8:07 and Justin Aikins at 15:02, but that's as close as they would come. Fresno scored on a controversial goal from Tyler Kindle at 16:02 and Matt O'Dette tallied an empty-net goal at 18:52 to close out the scoring.

Phoenix out-shot Fresno 39-31. Josh Tordjman, who came on in replace of Reiter at the end of the first period, stopped 20 shots but suffered the loss to fall to 2-2 on the season. The RoadRunners went 3-14 on the power play while the Falcons were 1-9.

Saturday, the Stockton Thunder tallied three third period goals including the equalizer and game-winning goal 37 seconds apart to defeat the Phoenix RoadRunners 3-2 before 8,209 at Stockton Arena.

For just the second time this season, the RoadRunners (3-5-0) struck for the game's opening goal. Alexandre Rouleau ripped a slap shot from the left point and Scott May re-directed it past the blocker of Stockton goaltender Devan Dubnyk at 17:05 of the first period on the power play to give Phoenix a 1-0 lead.

May tallied his second of the game as he beat Dubnyk with a slap shot from outside the left-wing circle at 1:26 of the second on the power play to increase the RoadRunners lead to 2-0.

Stockton (5-0-0) would score three unanswered goals 8:55 seconds apart in the third period for the come-from-behind victory. Adam Huxley got the Thunder on the board with a rebound goal at 3:53 to cut the deficit to 2-1. Then, on the strength of two five-on-three power play situations, Stockton would tie the game and take the lead as Tim O'Connell netted the equalizer at 12:11 and Jeff Lang scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal at 12:48.

Stockton out-shot Phoenix 42-32. Josh Tordjman stopped 39 shots but suffered the loss to fall to 2-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 2-9 on the power play while Stockton was 2-10 with the man advantage.

MAY DAY: Center Scott May leads the RoadRunners and is tied for fifth in the ECHL scoring race with five goals and 12 points through eight games. The White Rock, British Columbia native also leads the club with four multiple-point games and two multi-goal games.

E-SPECIAL-LY EFFECTIVE: The RoadRunners continue to click on special teams as they potted five more power play goals over the weekend to add to their growing total. Phoenix is 16-94 (17%) on the power play and ranks ninth overall in the ECHL. The RoadRunners have already enjoyed three games this season with three or more power play goals and have scored multiple power play goals in six out of their eight games. Last season Phoenix scored three or more power play goals in a game just four times and had only nine multiple power play goal games all year.

EVENED OUT: Despite their great power play success, the RoadRunners have failed to score an even strength goal in their last four games dating back to October 24 against Las Vegas. Even more peculiar, the RoadRunners have just six even strength goals for the season and have only scored an even strength goal in three out of their eight games this year. That means that of their 25 total goals, 76% (19) have come on either the power play (16) or the penalty kill (3).

TOUGH STRETCH: The RoadRunners are in the midst of their most grueling stretch of the season with six games in eight nights in five different cities. Beginning last Friday in Fresno, Phoenix will have traveled a grand total 2,757 miles once the trip concludes following Saturday's game in Long Beach.

NEWS & NOTES: Phoenix has dropped consecutive games when leading after two periods. Last season the RoadRunners were 11-1-1 when leading after two...Rookie defenseman Dave Pszenyczny has a goal and three assists in his first three games with the RoadRunners and leads all team rookies in scoring...Five out of the seven all-time games between Phoenix and Stockton have been decided by a single goal.

WATCH THE 'RUNNERS LIVE IN '06-07: The RoadRunners have teamed up with B2 Networks to bring you live action of Phoenix RoadRunners hockey in 2006-07. 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 36 RoadRunners home broadcasts will be available in addition to over 25 road games in Alaska, Idaho, Las Vegas, Stockton, Utah, and Bakersfield. A cable or DSL Internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 are required to view the games.

UP NEXT: The RoadRunners will play four games in five nights this week beginning at 7:11 p.m. Tuesday when the Stockton Thunder visit US Airways Center. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and tickets are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL. Phoenix will then travel to Long Beach at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday and visit Las Vegas at 8:05 p.m. Friday before returning to Long Beach at 8:00 p.m. Saturday to conclude the week. Catch all the action live at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" 20 minutes prior to face-off.

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