RoadRunners Hook Salmon Kings 4-2

December 12, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


PHOENIX, Ariz. - Justin Aikins broke a 2-2 tie with 10:23 remaining in regulation and the Phoenix RoadRunners tied a club record with 54 shots on goal in defeating the Victoria Salmon Kings 4-2 before 2,959 at US Airways Center in ECHL action Tuesday.

The RoadRunners (13-10-0) opened the scoring with a power play goal in the final minute of the first period. Brett Smith to the left-side of the Victoria net lifted the puck over the shoulder of Goaltender Julien Ellis off the cross-bar and into the cage at 19:38 for a 1-0 lead.

Victoria (9-12-1) netted the equalizer at 5:46 of the second period on the power play. From the far corner, Mike Stutzel fed the puck to the streaking Darryl Lloyd and Lloyd lifted a backhand shot over RoadRunners' goaltender Cody Rudkowsky to tie the game at 1-1. But the RoadRunners would regain the lead with another late period goal. Jeff Kyrzakos tallied his third of the season jamming the loose puck along the ice by Ellis at 18:05 to give Phoenix a 2-1 lead going into the second intermission.

The Salmon Kings would counter to start the third as Steve Lingren tipped the puck over Rudkowsky and into the net at 5:42 to tie the game at 2-2. Aikins responded less than four minutes later, collecting his own rebound in front of the cage and stuffing it by Ellis at 9:37 to give the RoadRunners a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish. Scott May sealed the win with a slap shot from the right-wing circle that beat Ellis over the glove at 17:03 of the third.

Phoenix out-shot Victoria 54-25. Rudkowsky stopped 23 shots to improve to 3-3-0 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-6 on the power play while Victoria was 1-4 with the man advantage.

Notes: Smith extended his personal goal streak to six games...The RoadRunners extended their club record to 14 consecutive games with a power play goal...Phoenix took a season-low five penalties for just 10 minutes...Defenseman Mathew Deschamps made his RoadRunners' debut. Deschamps was acquired from Charlotte for future considerations Monday.

The RoadRunners open a three-game series with the Texas Wildcatters at 6:05 p.m. Thursday at Ford Arena in Beaumont. Catch all the action live at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" at 5:45 p.m.

Phoenix returns to US Airways Center at 7:11 p.m. Thursday, December 21 as they welcome back the Victoria Salmon Kings. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

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 December 12, 2006


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