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Roadrunners drop three straight

November 7, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


Phoenix, Ariz. - WEEK RECORD 0-3-0 - SEASON RECORD 3-5-0 - 5th WEST DIVISION

‘RUNNERS REWIND:

One week after sweeping a two-game series from the San Diego Gulls, the Phoenix RoadRunners dropped three straight games to division rivals Idaho and Las Vegas to fall to 3-5-0 on the young season and into fifth place in the West Division.

Thursday, six different Steelheads scored a goal and Scott Burt picked up three assists to lead Idaho to a 6-3 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 2808 at America West Arena.

Jason Deskins opened the scoring for the RoadRunners (3-3-0) just 1:40 into the contest. Deskins collected the loose puck in the slot, spun, and fired a shot past Idaho goaltender Matt Yeats for a 1-0 advantage. Mike Ouellet extended the lead to 2-0 when he finished off a nifty pass from BJ Gaustad at the right side of the net and tipped the puck past Yeats at 3:58 of the period. The Steelheads (6-0-0) would strike back with a pair of goals 33 seconds apart. Marty Flichel got Idaho on the board with a power play goal at 10:49. Flichel's blast from the left point got through traffic and by RoadRunners goaltender Mathieu Chouinard to cut the Steelheads deficit to 2-1. Brad Thompson netted the equalizer at 11:22 when he pounced on the loose puck to the right of the cage and lifted it over Chouinard to tie the game at 2-2. Cory Pecker regained the lead for Phoenix at the 17:58 mark of the period on the power play. Pecker's pass across the slot was kicked into the Steelheads net by an Idaho defenseman to give the RoadRunners a 3-2 lead.

The Steelheads would counter with three unanswered goals in the second period. Janos Vas tallied a power play goal at 5:29 of the second to tie the game once again at 3-3. D'Arcy McConvey gave Idaho their first lead of the evening when he pounced on the loose puck at the end-line and slapped it past Chouinard 6:20 into the second period for a 4-3 advantage. Matt Reid extended the lead to 5-3 with an even strength goal at 13:05 to conclude the second period.

Idaho would seal the victory with their fourth straight goal when Mike Stutzel collected his own rebound and put a backhand shot past Chouinard at 7:57 on the power play to make the final score 6-3.

Idaho out-shot Phoenix 34-26. Chouinard stopped 28 shots in suffering his first loss of the season. The RoadRunners went 1-7 on the power play.

Friday, Las Vegas's Matt Dzieduszycki and Todd Alexander each scored a pair of goals and the Wranglers used three power play goals to earn a 5-3 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 4244 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

Dzieduszycki opened the scoring for Las Vegas (3-1-0) at 8:49 of the first period on a two-man advantage power play. Dzieduszycki curled out to the right-wing circle and fired a wrist shot over the right shoulder of RoadRunners goaltender Mike Mole to give the Wranglers a 1-0 lead. With Las Vegas still on the power play, Steve Crampton extended the lead to 2-0 when he tipped the bouncing puck in the slot past Mole at 9:58 of the period, just 1:09 after Dzieduszycki's tally.

After a scoreless second period, Phoenix (3-4-0) would finally crack the scoreboard at 1:31 of the third on the power play. Dave Cousineau's one-time drive from the right point found its way by Las Vegas goaltender Marc Magliarditi to cut the lead to 2-1. Yet the Wranglers would counter with a pair of goals of their own. Dzieduszycki netted his second power play goal of the night, firing a slap shot from inside the blue line over the glove of Mole at 4:35 to extend the lead back to two goals at 3-1. Alexander gave Las Vegas a 4-1 lead when he snuck a wrap-around shot from behind the net inside the left post at 8:34.

The RoadRunners fought back with two power play goals of their own after Chris Stanley was given a major penalty for elbowing. Taylor Christie beat a screened Magliarditi with a shot from the left point at 11:43 to bring Phoenix back to within two goals at 4-2. BJ Gaustad got the RoadRunners a second power play goal on the same penalty when he spun in the high slot and fired a wrist shot over Magliarditi's glove at 12:59 to make the score 4-3. That's the closest that Phoenix would come as Alexander sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 19:30 to make the final 5-3.

Las Vegas out-shot the RoadRunners 38-19. Mole stopped 33 shots in dropping to 0-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 3-10 on the power play.

Saturday, six different Steelheads registered a goal for the second time in three games and the two clubs combined for an ECHL season-high 208 penalty minutes as Idaho defeated the Phoenix RoadRunners 6-1 before 4103 at America West Arena.

The RoadRunners (3-5-0) opened the scoring 5:32 into the first period. Shawn Snider collected Cory Pecker's rebound to the right of the cage and slipped the puck past Idaho goaltender Steve Silverthorn to give Phoenix a 1-0 lead. The Steelheads (7-1-0) would counter with two goals to close the period. Jonathan Zion got Idaho on the board at 9:47 on the power play when his one-time slap shot from the left-wing circle beat RoadRunners goaltender Mathieu Chouinard along the ice to tie the game at 1-1. Bard Thompson extended the lead to 2-1 when off a Phoenix turnover in front of the net, Thompson collected the puck and tucked it through the short side at 14:13.

After a scoreless second period, D'Arcy McConvey fired a one-time slap shot over the glove of Chouinard at 1:10 of the third on the power play to give the Steelheads a 3-1 advantage. Marty Flichel blasted David Barauk's rebound past Chouinard 8:36 into the third to increase Idaho's lead to 4-1. Barauk added an even-strength and power play goal at 13:11 and 19:10 of the period respectively to make the final 6-1.

The game took a nasty turn with 1:26 second left in regulation when a fight broke out between the RoadRunners' Shawn Snider and Idaho's Greg Hornby that sparked a full out line brawl. When the teams finally returned to action, 21 penalties including four game misconducts had been handed out by referee Jason Nissen.

Idaho out-shot Phoenix 44-24. Chouinard stopped 38 shots to fall to 3-2-0 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-7 on the power play while surrendering three power play goals.

SHOOT THE PUCK:

Despite scoring seven goals in three games, the RoadRunners managed just 69 shots on goal over the weekend, an average of 23 shots on goal per game. Phoenix was held to a season-low 19 shots on goal in Friday's loss at Las Vegas. For the season, the RoadRunners are 22nd in the ECHL averaging 29 shots on goal per game.

SECOND PERIOD BLUES:

The RoadRunners were held without a goal and out-shot 37-11 in second periods this past weekend. Phoenix has been outscored 10-4 in second periods this season and has been out-shot by a count of 102-65.

DEFENSIVE STRUGGLES:

The RoadRunners have surrendered five or more goals and multiple power play goals in five out of their eight games this season. Phoenix ranks 25th in the ECHL in team defense allowing 4.25 goals per game, and 24th in the ECHL on the penalty kill converting at just 72.5% (37-51).

STILL STREAKING:

Defenseman Ed Hill extended his season-opening scoring streak to eight games after assisting on Shawn Snider's goal on Saturday. Hill leads the ECHL with 12 assists and leads all ECHL defensemen in scoring with 12 points. Meanwhile, Jason Deskins saw his season-high five-game assist and point streak come to an end in Saturday's loss.

HONORED:

RoadRunners goaltender Mathieu Chouinard and forward Cory Pecker were each named runner-up for ECHL Goaltender and Player of the Month respectively for the month of October. Chouinard was 3-0-0 with a 1.80 goals against average and a .954% save percentage in October while Pecker had five goals and 11 points to lead the ECHL in scoring.

ROADRUNNERS UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

The RoadRunners will salute America's Veterans with a special Veteran's Day game at 7:11PM on Friday against Long Beach at America West Arena. The first 2,000 fans will receive RoadRunners Rally Towels. In addition, the 2005 NASCAR Tour will hit America West Arena on Friday and set up an interactive display in the plaza outside the Casino Arizona Pavilion. For more information or to order tickets, call a RoadRunners Sales Representative at (602) 462-GOAL or purchase online at www.phxroadrunners.com.

NEWS & NOTES:

Forward Blake Robson made his professional debut on Thursday. Robson was signed by the RoadRunners on Monday after being released by the Columbia Inferno during training camp. He played two seasons at St. Francis Xavier University with RoadRunners' center Shawn Snider and goaltender Mike Mole...RoadRunners' Equipment Manager Jeff "Smoke" Adams worked his 700th professional game Friday at Las Vegas. Adams has spent 11 seasons working in professional hockey as either a head or assistant equipment manager including stops in Bakersfield, Tucson, Lake Charles (LA), Lubbock (TX), New Mexico, and Phoenix with the last incarnation of the RoadRunners that played in the International Hockey League...The RoadRunners were held without a power play goal on Saturday for just the second time this season. Phoenix is fourth in the ECHL on the power play converting at 26% (13-50).

WATCH THE ‘RUNNERS LIVE IN '05-06:

The RoadRunners have teamed up with B2 Networks to bring you live action of Phoenix RoadRunners hockey in 2005-06. 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, Pensacola, Las Vegas, San Diego, 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 once again play three games this week, but spread out over five days. Phoenix will host the Long Beach Ice Dogs at 7:11PM Wednesday at America West Arena in the first of a two-game series. The two teams will meet again at 7:11PM Friday at America West Arena. Sunday, Phoenix travels to San Diego to battle the Gulls at 6:05PM MST at the ipayOne Center. Catch all three games live on News Talk Radio 1100AM KFNX and Pro Sports Radio beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" twenty minutes before opening face-off.

PHOENIX ROADRUNNERS SCHEDULE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 7TH

Monday, November 7: Practice 10AM-11:30AM @ Alltel Ice Den

Tuesday, November 8: Practice 10AM-11:30AM @ Alltel Ice Den

Wednesday, November 9: Morning skate 10AM; RoadRunners vs. Long Beach 7:11PM

Thursday, November 10: Practice 10AM-11:30AM @ Alltel Ice Den

Friday, November 11: Morning skate 10AM; RoadRunners vs. Long Beach 7:11PM

Saturday, November 12: Depart for San Diego TBA

Sunday, November 13: Morning skate 11AM; RoadRunners @ San Diego 6:05PM



ECHL Stories from November 7, 2005


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