Roadrunners Ride into Break on Winning Note

January 23, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


Phoenix, Ariz. - WEEK RECORD: 2-1-0 - SEASON RECORD: 12-24-3 - 6th WEST DIVISION

‘RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners knocked off the first place Las Vegas Wranglers at US Airways Center Thursday and earned a split in their two-game weekend series with the Utah Grizzlies at the "E"-Center to go 2-1-0 to start the second half of the season and capture their first winning week in more than a month. The RoadRunners remain in sixth place in the West Division with 27 points, four points behind fifth place Victoria with two games in hand, and 18 points behind fourth place Utah for the final playoff spot in the West Division.

Thursday, goaltender Mike Mole stopped all four shooters in the shootout and Joe Dusbabek and Miguel Lafleche netted tallies in the second and third round respectively to lead the Phoenix RoadRunners to a 3-2 shootout victory over the first place Las Vegas Wranglers before 3,420 at US Airways Center.

After a scoreless first period, Las Vegas (29-6-4) would strike first at 11:51. Matt Dzieduszycki handcuffed Mole with a slap shot from the blue line, and the shot deflected off Mole's blocker and into the net to give the Wranglers a 1-0 lead. The RoadRunners (11-23-3) would counter off a nice individual effort by J-F Soucy. Soucy snuck around Christian Chartier at the right-wing circle, moved the puck to his forehand in the slot and beat Wranglers goaltender Marc Magliarditi with a shot along the ice at 14:51 to tie the game at 1-1. However, an ill-fated clear by RoadRunners defenseman Brad Woods gave the Wranglers a 2-1 lead going into the second intermission. Woods' clearing attempt came off the net right to Marco Peluso, who fed the puck in front to Sean O'Connor and O'Connor jammed it past Mole at 19:05 for the tally.

It would remain that way until the final minute of regulation despite the RoadRunners holding a 17-7 shot advantage. Jake Riddle from behind the cage fed the puck into the slot for Justin Quenneville. Quenneville's initial shot was blocked, but Soucy picked up the rebound and tipped the puck past Magliarditi at 19:30 for the equalizer to send the game to overtime and the eventual shootout.

Phoenix out-shot Las Vegas 42-30. Mole stopped 28 shots to improve to 7-17-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-4 on the power play but held the Wranglers without a power play goal on four attempts.

Friday, Ryan Kinasewich tallied two goals and added an assist to lead the Utah Grizzlies to a 7-3 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners in the opener of a two-game series before 3,149 at the "E"-Center.

The Grizzlies (21-15-3) struck for three first period goals in a span of 5:52 seconds. Ryan Kinasewich scored the first of his two in the period as he jammed a wraparound past RoadRunners goaltender Mike Mole at 5:40 on the power play to give Utah a 1-0 lead. Kinasewich extended the lead to 2-0 just 3:26 seconds after his first goal. With the Grizzlies power play just expired, Louis Dumont at the right-wing circle fed an open Kinasewich at the weak side of the net, and Kinasewich tipped the puck by Mole at 9:06 for the tally. Jeff Miles finished the scoring for Utah at 11:32 when he side-stepped a RoadRunners defenseman at the left-wing circle and beat Mole with a wrist shot through the pads to give the Grizzlies a 3-0 lead. Phoenix (11-24-3) would finally crack the scoreboard with the first period coming to a close. Justin Quenneville tipped Miguel Lafleche's rebound by Utah goalie Justin Eddy at 19:29 on the power play to cut the deficit to 3-1 heading into the first intermission.

Despite not recording a shot for the first 14 minutes of the second period, the Grizzlies scored the only goal of the frame on a two-man advantage power play goal at 15:56. Kinasewich fed Garrett Cameron at the top of the crease and Cameron slapped the puck through Mole for the 4-1 lead.

Shawn Snider brought Phoenix back to within two when he snuck around the defense at the left-wing circle, came in front of Eddy and pushed the puck through the goaltender's pads at 8:27 to make it a 4-2 hockey game. But the Grizzlies would counter with three goals in a span of 2:19 seconds from Barrett Eghoetz, Miles, and Colt King to break open the game and give Utah a 7-2 lead. Quenneville added his second of the game with a power play goal at 13:15 for the RoadRunners to cap the scoring.

Phoenix out-shot Utah 35-24. Mole stopped 15 shots in falling to 7-18-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 2-6 on the power play.

Saturday, Brad Woods tallied a goal and added an assist and goaltender Mike Mole stopped 29 shots to lead the Phoenix RoadRunners to a 2-1 victory over the Utah Grizzlies and a split in their two-game series before 5,436 at the "E"-Center.

After a scoreless first period, the RoadRunners (12-24-3) broke the ice with a power play goal 5:37 into the middle frame. Miguel Lafleche hit Mike Ouellet with a cross-ice pass at the right side of the net, and Ouellet fired a one-time slap shot past Utah goaltender Justin Eddy to give Phoenix a 1-0 lead. Woods made it a 2-0 hockey game just 2:47 seconds later. Off a fortunate bounce off the nearside boards, Woods picked up the rolling puck in the high slot and rifled a slap shot through Eddy's pads at 8:24 for the tally.

The Grizzlies (21-16-3) would counter at 11:53 of the third period with a controversial goal. Chad Starling's blast from the slot appeared to come off the crossbar and into Mole's glove, but referee Jason Nissen ruled it a goal to get Utah back to within a single tally at 2-1, but that's as close as they would get.

Utah out-shot Phoenix 30-26. The RoadRunners went 1-7 on the power play and held the Grizzlies without a power play goal on seven chances.

ANOTHER ROADRUNNERS' FIRST: Goaltender Mike Mole continues to etch his name in the RoadRunners' ECHL record book. By stopping all four shooters in the shootout Thursday, Mole gave the RoadRunners their first shootout victory in history and their first victory past regulation. Joe Dusbabek and Miguel Lafleche snapped a 1-12 RoadRunners' team drought in the shootout with goals in the second and third round respectively to put the Wranglers away.

MORE ON MOLE: The rookie net-minder is 2-2-1 in his last five starts with a strong 2.61 goals against average and a .916% save percentage. Mole has started a season-high eight consecutive games and is 3-4-1 with a 2.49 goals against average and a .923% save percentage over that stretch. He's allowed 13 goals in two losses to Alaska and Utah, but has only surrendered seven goals in his other six starts. If you take away those two losses, Mole is 3-2-1 with an impressive 1.13 goals against average and a .962% save percentage.

POWER UP: Despite falling 7-3 on Friday, the RoadRunners snapped a 1-44 (2.2%) stretch on the man advantage with two power play goals by Justin Quenneville. It marked the first time since November 4 at Las Vegas that Phoenix recorded multiple power play goals in a game. Mike Ouellet's power play goal in Saturday's win also gave the RoadRunners power play goals in consecutive games for the first time since December 22 and 23.

MORE ON QUENNEVILLE: The second-year pro has two goals and six points in six games with the RoadRunners, and a point in four out of those six contests since being acquired from Bakersfield on January 11. After missing more than two months of the season because of an injury, Quenneville has recorded three goals and 10 points in 14 games.

TIME TO BREAK: The ECHL will break this week for its 14th annual All-Star Gala Tuesday and Wednesday at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. The All-Star Skills Competition will be held at 8:05PM Tuesday, while the Bud Light ECHL All-Star Game will take place at 8:05PM Wednesday. Rookie center Shawn Snider will represent the RoadRunners. Snider enters the All-Star break leading all RoadRunners' rookies in scoring with six goals and 14 points. The game can be seen live if you are a subscriber to the NHL Center Ice package on DirecTV, Dish Network, or Cox Digital Cable. The game will be shown on tape-delay at 3PM Thursday on OLN.

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 return from the ECHL All-Star break at 8PM MST Friday as they continue their season-long nine-game stretch away from home with the opener of a two-game series at Victoria. The RoadRunners and Salmon Kings will conclude the series at 8PM MST Saturday also at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. 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 JANUARY 23RD

Monday, January 23 - Wednesday January 25: ECHL All-Star Break

Wednesday, January 25: 14th annual Bud Light ECHL All-Star Game 8:05PM

Thursday, January 24: Depart for Seattle/Victoria 8:15AM; Arrive in Victoria 5:30PM

Friday, January 25: Morning Skate 12:15PM; RoadRunners @ Victoria 8PM

Saturday, January 26: Morning Skate 12:15PM; RoadRunners @ Victoria 8PM

Sunday, January 27: Depart for Seattle/Phoenix 8:30AM; Arrive in Phoenix 8:06PM



ECHL Stories from January 23, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central