AHL Tucson Roadrunners

Roadrunners Earn Overtime Point to Finish Gem Show Trip 3-1-1-0

Published on February 10, 2024 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Tucson Roadrunners News Release


Tucson Roadrunners' Patrik Koch, Victor Soderstrom, Dylan Wells, and Travis Barron on the ice
Tucson Roadrunners' Patrik Koch, Victor Soderstrom, Dylan Wells, and Travis Barron on the ice
(Tucson Roadrunners, Credit: Iowa Wild)

DES MOINES, IA - The gem show in Tucson couldn't give any overtime crystal magic to the Roadrunners as they fell 5-4 to the Iowa Wild to drop to 28-14-2-1 on the year from Des Moines, IA finishing off their Gem Show Road Trip at 3-1-1-0

Contrary to Friday night's game with zero goals in the first period, Saturday night's contest between the Tucson Roadrunners and Iowa Wild featured five goals in the first period and nine total in the game. Iowa would strike first just 4:29 into the game and for the second straight night take a 1-0 lead on the Roadrunners. Justin Kirkland would answer back with his third goal of the year on the power-play at the nine-minute mark knotting things up 1-1. Kirkland, who has spent time with the Arizona Coyotes this season, was assisted by John Leonard who picked up his 13th assist of the year. Tucson would then take its first and only lead of the night three minutes and 16 seconds later with Colin Theisen lighting the lamp for the Roadrunners to give them the 2-1 lead. Peter DiLiberatore and Justin Kirkland picked up assists on the Theisen goal. Iowa would answer the Tucson lead with a power-play goal of their own followed by an even-strength goal late in the opening frame to head into the intermission with a 3-2 lead; out-shooting Tucson 11-7 in the period.

With slightly less of a chaotic second period the two sides would trade goals and leave Iowa with a one-goal lead. Iowa would score first and go up 4-2 just after the halfway mark of the second. AHL All-Star and Tucson leading point leader Josh Doan would answer the Iowa lead with a goal for the Roadrunners. The goal was Doan's 19th of the season, and a palin-doan (palindrome) of his number #91. Doan was assisted by former Arizona State Univerity teammate Colin Theisen on the play, as well as Justin Kirkland. Kirkland picked up his third point of the night and recorded his second game of the season scoring three-points or more in the contest.

The third period would bode well for the Roadrunners as just a single goal was scored, and it belonged to the visiting team wearing white. Cameron Hebig would receive a pass from Jan Jenik and hack and whack the puck into the back of the net. Nathan Smith also assisted Hebig on his eighth goal of the season and game-tying goal. Regulation would wrap up 4-4 and the two sides would give the Iowa crowd some free hockey in the Well Fargo Arena.

Tucson netminder Dylan Wells was a wall for the Roadrunners, making 29 saves on the night and three in the overtime period. Following an incredible diving save from Wells the Wild would punch one into the net and skate off victorious 5-4. The team will travel back to Tucson for a matchup against the Ontario Reign on Friday, February 16th and Saturday, February 17th.

"It's a gritty team over there who played hard and didn't give us a lot of space. It's a weekend that we are going to learn from and not a result that we are happy with. We're looking forward to being back home and to reset physically and mentally," said forward Justin Kirkland after Tucson's 5-4 overtime loss in Iowa on Saturday night.

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Images from this story

Tucson Roadrunners' Patrik Koch, Victor Soderstrom, Dylan Wells, and Travis Barron on the ice
Tucson Roadrunners' Patrik Koch, Victor Soderstrom, Dylan Wells, and Travis Barron on the ice
(Iowa Wild)		   



American Hockey League Stories from February 10, 2024


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