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RoadRunners face off against Pacific's best

February 26, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


'RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners capped their five-game homestand Friday with a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory before the second largest crowd to watch a RoadRunners game at US Airways Center. That win was sandwiched around losses to Alaska Tuesday and Bakersfield Saturday to conclude the week. With 52 points, the RoadRunners sit in third place in the West Division and seventh overall in the National Conference. Phoenix is six points behind the #6 seed Stockton Thunder and three points ahead of the #8 seed Victoria Salmon Kings. The top eight teams in the National Conference advance to the 2007 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Tuesday, Joe Talbot and Mike Scott each scored a pair of goals to propel the Alaska Aces to a 4-2 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before a crowd of 3,462 at US Airways Center.

Alaska (37-13-3) kicked off the scoring at 7:46 of the first period. Vladimir Novak's pass from the right-wing corner deflected off Olivier Filion's stick right to Mike Scott in the slot. Scott snapped a wrist shot by the outstretched glove of RoadRunners goaltender Mike Morrison to give the Aces a 1-0 lead.

Talbot extended the Aces lead to 2-0 as he beat Morrison standing up with a shot from the right circle just 1:21 into the second period.

Talbot then netted his second of the game at 3:03 of the third period on the power play. Talbot received the puck in the slot with his back turned to the net, spun around, and lifted a shot over the shoulder of Morrison to give the Aces a 3-0 advantage. The RoadRunners (23-25-4) would finally beat rookie goalie Isaac Reichmuth as Chanse Fitzpatrick found an open Kyle Orr at the side of the net, and Orr tipped the puck into the cage at 8:03 to cut the deficit to 3-1. However, off a Phoenix turnover at the Alaska blue line, Mike Scott broke in alone on Morrison beat him with a shot off the blocker and into the net at 8:03 to increase the Aces edge to 4-1 and put the game away. Olivier Latendresse tallied his eighth goal of the year with 35 seconds remaining in regulation to close the scoring, but it was too little too late.

Alaska out-shot Phoenix 27-22. Morrison made 23 saves but fell to 9-8-2 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-3 on the power play while Alaska was 1-7 with the man-advantage.

Friday, Todd Jackson scored with 1:51 remaining in overtime to lift the Phoenix RoadRunners to a 3-2 victory over the Bakersfield Condors before a crowd of 6,575 at US Airways Center.

Following a scoreless first period, the teams traded two goals apiece in the second frame. Bakersfield (30-13-8) opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal from Josh Liebenow at 6:32 of the period. On the same power play however, the RoadRunners (24-25-4) would convert as Liam Lindstrom found an open Jeff Kyrzakos at the left-wing circle, and Kyrzakos beat Condors goalie Rejean Beauchemin by the blocker at 7:24 to tie the game at 1-1. Bakersfield regained a 2-1 advantage at 15:56 following a RoadRunners turnover at the blue line. Rane Carnegie tipped the puck ahead to Todd Griffith who broke in alone on goalie Cody Rudkowsky and snapped a shot over his left glove and into the net to give the Condors their second lead of the game. But Dusty Demianiuk would net the equalizer less than two minutes later as he ripped the puck over Beauchemin's blocker from the high slot at 17:22 to tie the score at 2-2.

It would remain tied until the RoadRunners received a four-on-three power play in overtime. Mat Snesrud faked a shot from the right point, slid the puck down to Jackson, and Jackson worked a backhander around Beauchemin and into the net at 3:09 of the extra session to seal the win and set off a massive on-ice celebration

Bakersfield out-shot Phoenix 41-28. Rudkowsky made 39 saves to snap a five-game winless streak and improve to 7-11-2 on the season. The RoadRunners went 2-4 on the power play while Bakersfield was 0-8 with the man-advantage.

Saturday, five players recorded multiple-point games to help the Bakersfield Condors defeat the Phoenix RoadRunners 5-1 before a crowd of 8,328 at Rabobank Arena.

Bakersfield (31-13-8) jumped out to a quick 2-0 first period lead. With the Condors power play expiring, Rane Carnegie took advantage of a RoadRunners turnover behind the net and jammed the puck through RoadRunners goalie Cody Rudkowsky at 2:47 for a 1-0 lead. Kevin Truelson extended the lead to 2-0 beating Rudkowsky from the left-wing circle at 14:41 of the period.

The Condors opened the second period the same way the started the game scoring just 4:09 into the middle frame as Regan Leslie stuffed home the loose puck at the top of Rudkowsky's crease increasing the lead to 3-0. The RoadRunners (24-26-4) would finally crack the scoreboard as Justin Aikins snapped a shot over the blocker of Bakersfield goalie Jamie Hodson at 18:51 to cut the deficit to 3-1 heading into the second intermission.

After the RoadRunners failed to score on a five-on-three power play early in the third period, Andrew Ianiero and Sean Venedam added tallies for Bakersfield at 12:14 and 14:47 on the man-advantage respectively to seal the victory.

Bakersfield out-shot Phoenix 40-28. Rudkowsky made 35 saves but fell to 7-12-2 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-7 on the power play while Bakersfield was 2-7 with the man-advantage.

US AIRWAYS CENTER WELCOMING RECORD CROWDS: Friday's attendance of 6,575 was the second largest this season and the second largest crowd ever to watch a RoadRunners game at US Airways Center. The RoadRunners averaged 5,101 people during their five-game homestand, and since Jan. 12 have welcomed four of their five biggest crowds in their brief ECHL history. Phoenix is averaging 3,653 fans through 29 games at US Airways Center, virtually identical to the 3,708 they drew through 29 home games last season.

MORE MILESTONES FOR AIKINS: One week after recording his 100th career point, forward Justin Aikins set a new career-high by tallying his 21st goal of the season Saturday at Bakersfield. Aikins leads the RoadRunners with 21 goals and 44 points through 52 games and is 15 points shy of matching his point total from last year's rookie campaign.

POWER PLAY REDISCOVERED: The RoadRunners snapped a 1-52 stretch on the power play by going 2-4 with the man-advantage Friday against Bakersfield. It was the RoadRunners' first power play goal in seven games and their first multiple power play goal game since Jan. 31 at Utah.

NEWS & NOTES: Defensemen Mat Snesrud (two assists Friday) and Jeff MacMillan (assist Saturday) each recorded their first points since joining the RoadRunners...Phoenix captured their first overtime victory in nine tries Friday and are now 1-2 in games decided in the five minute extra session and 4-2 in games decided in a shootout...Kyle Orr tallied his first professional goal Tuesday against Alaska.

"10 MINUTES IN THE BOX" ON 106.7 KWSS-FM: Join your favorite RoadRunners at 9:10 a.m. each and every Wednesday for "10 Minutes in the Box", a new weekly segment devoted entirely to your Phoenix RoadRunners on 106.7 KWSS-FM and online at www.kwss1067.com. "10 Minutes in the Box" will air weekly as part of the "Driving with Gass" radio show hosted by Kevin Gassman, which can be heard Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

"FACE-OFFAGAINST KIDS CANCER" UNDERWAY: The RoadRunners are halfway through their first annual "Face-Off Against Kids Cancer". For the next month, players and children will participate in a series of social events with the hopes of creating a lasting relationship and increased awareness about childhood cancer in the community. The "Face-Off Against Kids Cancer" will culminate at 7:11 p.m. Saturday, March 17 when the RoadRunners take the ice against the Las Vegas Wranglers wearing special commemorative jerseys dedicated to those Phoenix Children's patients participating in the program. These jerseys will be auctioned off immediately after the game with the proceeds benefiting the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Phoenix Children's Hospital and Caps For Kids, a national non-profit organization which provides hats autographed by athletes and celebrities to children who lose their hair due to the effects of chemotherapy. For more information or to find out how you can be apart of the "Face-Off Against Kids Cancer", contact the RoadRunners at (602) 379-7870.

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 play four games in five nights with three of those contests coming away from US Airways Center. Phoenix visits Bakersfield at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday and travels to Las Vegas at 8:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The RoadRunners host the Las Vegas Wranglers at 7:11 p.m. Thursday at US Airways Center. Catch all the action live at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" 20 minutes prior to face-off. Individual game tickets for the 2006-07 regular season start as low $7 in the lower section and can be purchased at the US Airways Center Box Office and at all Ticketmaster outlets including Ticketmaster.com. Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.



ECHL Stories from February 26, 2007


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