Roadrunners Shut Out Silver Knights 3-0 on Teddy Bear Toss Night

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AHL Tucson Roadrunners

Roadrunners Shut Out Silver Knights 3-0 on Teddy Bear Toss Night

December 15, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Tucson Roadrunners News Release


Tucson Roadrunners' Austin Poganski and Artem Duda on game night
Tucson Roadrunners' Austin Poganski and Artem Duda on game night
(Tucson Roadrunners, Credit: Kate Dibilidox/Tucson Roadrunners)

TUCSON, AZ - The Tucson Roadrunners (12-10-0-0) celebrated Teddy Bear Toss Night with a 3-0 victory over the Henderson Silver Knights (6-18-0-0) on Saturday at Tucson Arena. Goalie Matthew Villalta turned aside all 33 shots he faced, earning his second shutout of the season and securing Tucson's third sweep of the year.

Captain Austin Poganski sparked the Teddy Bear Toss after scoring the first goal midway through the first period to give the Roadrunners an early lead. Forwards Andrew Agozzino and Kailer Yamamoto added two power-play goals in the third to seal the win.

THE RUNDOWN

First Period Tucson's first opportunity came five minutes in, when Ben McCartney carried the puck coast-to-coast, deked around the Henderson defense, and fired a backhand shot on goal. Although the assistant captain couldn't convert, Poganski scored two minutes later during four-on-four play.

Sokolov and Henderson defenseman Dysin Mayo were sent off following a post-whistle scrum, setting up an offensive zone draw for the Roadrunners. Poganski won the faceoff back to defenseman Robbie Russo, who snapped the puck to rookie defenseman Artem Duda at the left point. Duda fired a low shot that Poganski deflected over goaltender Akira Schmid's shoulder, giving the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead at 7:09.

With five minutes remaining, Yamamoto appeared to score on a two-on-one with Andrew Agozzino. Yamamoto beat goaltender Akira Schmid with a wrist shot from close range, but the play was blown dead after Agozzino was pushed into the crease and collided with Schmid. The Roadrunners challenged the ruling on the ice, but the call was upheld, leaving Tucson with a one-goal lead at the end of the period.

Second Period Mayo's tripping penalty gave Tucson its second power play of the evening five minutes into the period. The Roadrunners generated a couple of chances off point shots from Duda and defenseman Max Szuber, but Schmid stymied both opportunities to keep it a one-goal game.

Tucson kept up the pressure, and Yamamoto nearly extended the Roadrunners' lead seven-and-a-half minutes into the period. Yamamoto intercepted a Henderson pass in the neutral zone and sped down the ice with forward Cam Hebig. The pair executed a quick give-and-go, but Schmid denied Yamamoto with a glove save.

The Silver Knights gained momentum in the latter half of the period, controlling much of the play in the final 10 minutes. However, Villalta blocked six shots down the stretch - 11 in total - to keep Tucson's one-goal lead intact. His biggest save came with three minutes remaining when he stopped a one-timer by Henderson forward Gage Quinney on a two-on-one rush.

Third Period Henderson defenseman Christoffer Sedoff was called for tripping two minutes into the final period, and the Roadrunners took advantage of its third power-play opportunity of the night. Agozzino received a pass from Russo below the blue line and blasted a one-timer from the right faceoff circle past Schmid to extend Tucson's lead to 2-0 at 2:24.

Just past the halfway point of the period, Roadrunners defenseman Montana Onyebuchi nearly extended Tucson's lead to three with a high wrist shot off the rush. However, Schmid stood tall, making the save to keep the Silver Knights within striking distance.

Tucson maintained its aggressive play and earned its fourth power play of the game when Silver Knights defenseman Jake Bischoff was called for tripping at 13:45. On the ensuing man advantage, Yamamoto snapped a quick shot from down low in the slot to extend the Roadrunners' lead to 3-0 with 5:42 remaining.

In the final minutes, Villalta stopped four more Henderson shots, securing both the win and the shutout.

The Roadrunners will look to make it three straight on Monday night against the San Diego Gulls at Tucson Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. MST. Tickets can be purchased using the link here. The game will be available to stream on AHLTV on FLO HOCKEY.

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Images from this story

Tucson Roadrunners' Austin Poganski and Artem Duda on game night
Tucson Roadrunners' Austin Poganski and Artem Duda on game night
(Kate Dibilidox/Tucson Roadrunners)		   

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