Roadrunners Lose Tordjman to Injury, Game to Vegas 6-5

by Andrew Nordmeier
Published on October 25, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers


The Phoenix Roadrunners suffered two losses Tuesday night at the US Airways Center. Not only did the lose the game to the Las Vegas Wranglers by a 6-5 score, they suffered a bigger loss in net.

With 4:20 left in the opening period, Roadrunner netminder Josh Tordjman went down in pain with an injury to his right arm. He writhed on the ice in obvious pain for a minute before getting back up.

"We don't know, he's yet to be evaluated. I'm sure he's going to have some tests tomorrow and see how he is," Phoenix Assistant Head Coach Brad Church said, "He's hyperextended his elbow and we'll go form there. Whether it's serious or not, we don't know."

With Tordjman hurt and backup Cory Rudkowsky sitting on the 30-day injured reserve, the goaltending duties will fall to Kevin Reiter, the team's emergency backup.

Phoenix certainly didn't go quietly into the night as they rallied back from a three-goal deficit to nearly pull the win out.

The Roadrunners filled the three-goal hole with goals from Lance Monych at 8:56 of the second period to make it a 5-3 game. Phoenix pulled even with goals from Brent Smith and Travis Lisabeth in the opening minute of the third period to knot the game at 5-5.

Las Vegas (1-0-2) weathered the storm and took a 6-5 lead when Lucas Lawson snuck the puck past Kevin Reiter 4:24 into the third period for the eventual game-winner.

Phoenix thought it had tied the game at 10:31 of the third off of a scramble in front. The play was ruled a goal by the goal judge but referee Travis Smith conferred with his fellow officials and waved it off a few seconds later saying the puck didn't go completely over the line.

The Roadrunners had one final chance to tie the game with a power play for the final 1:57 of regulation time. Even with Reiter pulled for a two-man advantage and the time spent in the Vegas zone the Roadrunners couldn't get the equalizer.

"I think goaltending is the least of our concerns right now. We haven't played 60 minutes of hockey yet really and it's a growing concern and starting to hurting us," Church said, "We have spurts here and there and we have good periods but it's not enough in this league."

Las Vegas opened the scoring with a Jason Jozsa goal at 3:19 of the first period before Scott May scored the first of his two goals on the night at 6:13 to knot the score at 1-1. Las Vegas scored four of the next five goals from Joe Tallari, Nick Anderson, Lawson and Kelly Czuy. May's second goal of the night at 15:29 of the opening period kept Phoenix within a reasonable deficit and set up the three-goal flurry.

"To give up six goals at home is not enough. When you score five goals in a game it should be enough to win," Church said.

Phoenix (2-2-0) concludes its season-opening homestand with games against the Fresno Falcons Friday and Saturday night.

"Friday, Sunday and tonight we came out flat and didn't play with urgency," Church said, "Got down by a couple times and decided it was time to play. When we want to play we're a really good time and when we don't we're really average."

Three Stars of the Night

3. Monych-PHX Goal and two assists in the losing effort.

2. May-PHX Two goals and an assist.

1. Lawson-LV Two goals including game winner

Notes: Las Vegas played without left winger Steve Crampton and defenseman Jason Krischuk...Las Vegas has 9 of the 10 all-time meetings between these two teams; Phoenix's only win came on January 16th in a 3-2 shootout triumph...Las Vegas was 36-0-2 last season when leading after two periods...Attendance was 2,412.

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