RoadRunners Snap Losing Streak, Dump Condors 5-3

March 29, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Alexandre Rouleau scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal 5:26 into the third period to lift the Phoenix RoadRunners to a 5-3 victory over the Bakersfield Condors and snap a seven-game losing streak before a crowd of 4,262 at Rabobank Arena in ECHL action Wednesday.

Following a scoreless first period, the RoadRunners (26-35-5) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening five minutes of the middle frame. Brock Hooton got things started when he beat Bakersfield goalie Rejean Beauchemin along the ice at 1:49 of the second for a 1-0 lead. Jeff Kyrzrakos made it 2-0 when he snapped the puck over Beauchemin over the right shoulder at 4:31. Rane Carnegie cut the Condors' (40-16-11) deficit in half as he collected Scott Borders' rebound off the end boards and slipped the puck through the pads of Phoenix goalie Cody Rudkowsky at 11:48.

A wild third period saw four goals scored in the first six minutes. Olivier Latendresse gave the RoadRunners a 3-1 lead as he worked the puck around Beauchemin and tipped it into the empty-net at 2:12. The Condors came right back to score twice in a span of 1:45 seconds to tie the contest at 3-3. Mike Hofstrand beat Rudkowsky from the slot off a Phoenix turnover at 2:47 to make it a 3-2 game. Sean Venedam netted the equalizer off Hofstrand's face-off win as he shot the puck off Rudkowsky's body and in from the side of the net at 4:32. The RoadRunners came right back to re-gain the lead 54 seconds later as Rouleau ripped a slap shot past Beauchemin from the left point for a 4-3 advantage. Kyrzakos sealed the win with an empty-netter for his second goal of the night at 19:56.

Phoenix out-shot Bakersfield 50-46. Rudkowsky stopped 43 shots to improve to 9-18-2 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-5 on the power play and held Bakersfield to 0-8 on the man-advantage.

Notes: With losses by Long Beach and Utah, Phoenix extended their lead to six points for the eighth and final playoff spot in the National Conference and shaved their magic number to seven with six games remaining...Head Coach Brad Church earned his first win in just his second game behind the RoadRunners bench...The 50 shots on goal were the most for the RoadRunners since firing 51 at Utah on Feb. 3...Tyler Redenbach picked up his first two points in a RoadRunners uniform...Phoenix captured their first win lifetime in seven tries in Bakersfield (1-5-1)...Defenseman Dusty Demianiuk was activated off the injured reserve prior to the game and appeared in the line-up for the first time since Mar. 17.

Phoenix continues their season-ending, season-long seven-game road trip at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Stockton. Catch all the action live on www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" at 7:10 p.m.

Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2007-08 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.



ECHL Stories from March 29, 2007


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