RoadRunners Steal Home Ice with Road Split
April 18, 2016 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
The Topeka RoadRunners earned a road split at Lone Star to begin the NAHL South Division Semi-Final series. Now two of the three potential remaining games will be played in Topeka, where the 'Runners posted a 3-0-1 record over the Brahmas in the regular season.
FRIDAY APRIL 15 - GAME ONE: From the opening faceoff, it was evident this was playoff hockey. Both teams skated with speed and purpose, fired shots and finished checks. Lone Star outshot Topeka 6-4, but the 'Runners may have had the better chance to score when JB Baker's shot from the left circle missed up high. The high octane contest was penalty free and scoreless at the end of one period.
The first penalty of the game was against the Brahmas, but Topeka was unable to take advantage. Lone Star took a 1-0 lead at 14:45 when Carson Kelley powered home a crossing pass from Johan Lundgren on a rush after a sequence of great offensive zone pressure by the RoadRunners. The Brahmas closed the period on the power play but Topeka killed it off and the score remained 1-0 at the end of the second period. In the final frame, Topeka was poised to try to tie the game when they found themselves on a 5-on-3 power play, but Martin Mellberg, fresh out of the penalty box on the first of those two penalties, was able to punch home a short-handed goal at 9:07 for a 2-0 lead. Topeka got right back in the game when Dominic Lutz blistered a shot past the Brahma netminder and it was suddenly a one goal game again. However, just over two minutes later the Brahmas shoveled home a rebound that popped out of Juho Niku's glove for a 3-1 lead that ended up being the final margin. Topeka was held to just 15 shots on goal as Lone Star rolled to a 1-0 series lead.
SATURDAY APRIL 16 - GAME TWO: The Topeka RoadRunners never led the entire weekend until the final shot of Game Two, but it was enough to bring the series home to Topeka even at a game apiece and effectively steal home ice advantage.
For the second night in a row, Lone Star held an edge in shots on goal in the opening period, though Topeka clearly had made some adjustments to create more opportunities. Lone Star thought they had taken a 1-0 lead on a shot that went off the pipe and was initially washed out by the referee, though the goal light did go on. After a brief consultation, the call on the ice stood as no goal. Moments later, the Brahmas got one to stick as Carson Kelley backhanded a rebound behind Juho Niku at 6:03 and Topeka trailed 1-0 when the first buzzer sounded, outshot by the Brahmas 16-7.
In the second period, Topeka ramped up the pressure and the momentum shifted the opposite direction. Topeka went on a power play and Luka Maver cashed in to put the 'Runners on the board at 5:28, assisted by Dominic Lutz and JB Baker, and for the first time in the series, Topeka outshot the Brahmas, by an 8-4 margin.
The third period was hard hitting, tight checking, and full of action at both ends of the rink as both teams laid it all out on the ice, blocking shots and sacrificing the body for every ounce of opportunity, but as the clock hit zeroes, the game remained tied at a goal apiece.
Headed to sudden death overtime, Topeka had a quality chance just seconds into it but Sami Tavernier's shot was turned aside and over the glass. The game winner came when Quinn Preston backhanded the rebound of a Shawn Brennan shot at 5:52 to win the game and tie the series. Juho Niku made 28 saves to pick up the 2-1 overtime victory.
The series now shifts to the Kansas Expocentre, where Topeka and Lone Star will meet in Games 3 and 4 of the NAHL South Division Semi Final series on Friday and Saturday at 7:05 pm in Landon Arena. The games will be streamed live online with FASTHockey.com, and broadcast in the arena at 88.9 FM.
• Discuss this story on the North American Hockey League message board...
North American Hockey League Stories from April 18, 2016
- Rebels Tender Culver Academies Ryan Patrick - Philadelphia Rebels
- Wilderness Split Games 1 and 2 in Janesville - Minnesota Wilderness
- RoadRunners Steal Home Ice with Road Split - Topeka Pilots
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.
