RoadRunners Set To Hit The Road

Published on October 30, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


PHOENIX, Ariz. - WEEK RECORD 1-2-0 - SEASON RECORD 3-3-0 - T-2ND WEST DIVISION

'RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners concluded their season-opening six-game homestand at US Airways Center by snapping a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the reigning Pacific Division Champion Fresno Falcons Saturday. The win followed a 6-1 loss to Fresno on Friday and a 6-5 defeat at the hands of the Las Vegas Wranglers on Tuesday. With a record of 3-3-0 and six points, the RoadRunners are tied for second in the West Division with the Alaska Aces.

Tuesday, six different Wranglers scored goals including Lucas Lawson who scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal 4:24 into the third period to lift Las Vegas over the Phoenix RoadRunners 6-5 before 2,412 at US Airways Center.

A wild first period that produced five combined goals saw Las Vegas (1-0-2) score all three of its goals on the power play. The Wranglers opened the scoring as Jason Josza converted from the left point at 3:19 with the man advantage for a 1-0 lead. Scott May netted the equalizer for Phoenix (2-2-0) at 6:13 on a two-man power play situation as he sneaked the puck by Wranglers goaltender Marc Magliarditi to tie the score at 1-1. Joe Tallari regained the lead for Las Vegas at 2-1 as he finished a cross-ice pass from Kelly Czuy just inside the left-wing circle at 10:01 on the power play. Nick Anderson made it a 3-1 game, re-directing Marco Peluso's shot from the outside the right-wing circle past RoadRunners goaltender Josh Tordjman at 14:47 on the power play. But just 42 seconds later, May slapped home a centering pass from Lance Monych at 15:29 even strength to cut the RoadRunners deficit to 3-2 after one period.

The Wranglers would add to their lead with two goals in the first seven minutes of the second period against goaltender Kevin Reiter on in replace of Tordjman. Adam Cracknell scored off Reiter's goal stick at 1:21 of the period and Czuy tallied the first of his pro career at 6:57 jamming it through Reiter's pads. Monych would get the RoadRunners back to within two goals as he beat Magliarditi with a backhand shot at 8:56 to make the score 5-3.

The RoadRunners opened the third with two quick goals 32 seconds apart in the first minute of play. Brett Smith tallied his first in a RoadRunners uniform off a broken play in front of the net 21 seconds into the third and Travis Lisabeth tied the game at 5-5 re-directing Jake Ortmeyer's shot from the blue line past Magliarditi at 53 seconds of the third period. But the Wranglers would take the lead for good as Lawson pounded home Cracknell's rebound at 4:24 for a 6-5 advantage.

Phoenix out-shot Las Vegas 40-26. Reiter stopped 14 of 17 shots but suffered the loss to fall to 0-1-0 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-11 on the power play while Las Vegas was 3-9.

Friday, John Morlang tallied a pair of goals and Luke Curtin notched a goal and added two assists to lead the Fresno Falcons to a 6-1 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 3,089 at US Airways Center.

Fresno (3-0-0) opened the scoring with a pair of special teams' goals in the first period. Off a turnover at the Falcons blue line, Curtin finished a two-on-one shorthanded break with Rob McFeeters sending a backhand shot over RoadRunners goaltender Kevin Reiter at 3:30 for a 1-0 lead. Dustin VanBallegooie extended the Falcon lead to 2-0, ripping a slap shot from the blue line through traffic and past Reiter at 12:44 on the power play.

Dusty Demianiuk brought the RoadRunners (2-3-0) back to within a goal at 2-1 when he wrestled the puck away from Fresno's Cory Murphy and lifted a shot over goaltender Scott Stirling's right shoulder at 9:57 shorthanded. But the Falcons would respond with their second shorthanded goal of the night as Brady Leisenring led Morlang to the front of the RoadRunners net and Morlang jammed it home at 11:59 to give Fresno a 3-1 lead. Murphy extended the lead to 4-1 with a power play goal at 14:44.

Tomas Fojtik and Morlang finished the scoring with a pair of goals in the third period at 7:16 and 14:04 respectively.

Fresno out-shot Phoenix 31-22. Reiter stopped 25 shots but fell to 0-2-0 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-7 on the power play while Fresno was 2-9.

Saturday, Kevin Reiter stopped 45 shots and Cam Paddock scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal 6:24 into the third period to lift the Phoenix RoadRunners to a 2-1 victory over the Fresno Falcons before 3374 at US Airways Center.

Fresno (3-1-0) opened the scoring on the power play at 13:52 of the first period. Josh Prudden won the face-off over to Dustin VanBallegooie, and VanBallegooie ripped a slap shot past the blocker of RoadRunners goaltender Kevin Reiter to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.

Scott May needed just 1:01 into the second period to the net the equalizer for the RoadRunners (3-3-0). Brian Yandle fed the puck to May into the slot and May snapped a wrist shot over the right shoulder of Fresno goaltender Ryan MacDonald on a power play to tie the score at 1-1.

It would stay that way until the RoadRunners received a 5-on-3 power play. Alexandre Rouleau fired a shot wide of the net, but the rebound came down to Paddock who tucked the puck through MacDonald at 6:24 on the power play to give Phoenix the win.

Fresno out-shot Phoenix 46-34. Reiter improved to 1-2 on the year with his 45-save effort. The RoadRunners went 2-10 on the power play while Fresno was 1-8.

PSZENYCZNY RETURNS FROM TORONTO: Rookie defenseman Dave Pszenyczny returned from his 12-day stint with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League prior to Saturday's game and made his RoadRunners' debut that evening against Fresno. Pszenyczny collected two assists in four games with the Marlies. To make room for Pszenyczny on the roster, the RoadRunners placed defenseman Paul Ballantyne on the 30-day injured reserve.

'RUNNERS END FALCON DOMINANCE: Saturday's 2-1 win over Fresno marked the RoadRunners first victory in six tries against the Falcons and ended their dominance in Phoenix. Before Saturday, Fresno had outscored Phoenix 17-5 in three games at US Airways Center.

IT'S ABOUT TIME: Center Cam Paddock's go-ahead goal 6:24 into the third period Saturday gave the RoadRunners their first lead since the 2:28 mark of the third period in last Sunday's 4-3 loss against Utah, a stretch of 183:56 minutes.

POWER SURPLUS: With 11 power play goals through their first six games, the RoadRunners are on a pace to score 132 power play goals this season. Phoenix tallied just 49 power play goals in 2005-06, while the ECHL's top power play team, the Gwinnett Gladiators, scored 114 times on the man advantage.

NEWS & NOTES: The RoadRunners are just one of three ECHL teams (Alaska & Florida) that has yet to play a road game...Fresno's John Morlang was awarded a penalty shot at the 8:47 mark of the third period Saturday with a chance to tie the game, but was denied by goaltender Kevin Reiter. Reiter led all United Hockey League goaltenders last season in shootout save percentage (79.4%) while skating for the Missouri River Otters...The RoadRunners have surrendered the opening goal in five out of their first six games and are 2-3-0 in those situations.

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 open their 36-game road schedule with a pair of contests this weekend in central California. Phoenix will visit Fresno at 8:35 p.m. Friday at the Save Mart Center before facing off with the Stockton Thunder at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Stockton Arena. Catch all the action live at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" at 8:15 p.m.

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