Roadrunners weekly

Published on November 5, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


‘RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners continued their season-opening 12-game home-stand by splitting a pair of games with Pacific Division rival Fresno. With a record of 4-3-0 and eight points, the RoadRunners are in third place in the West Division two points behind the Victoria Salmon Kings, and are currently tied for fourth in the National Conference.

Thursday, Justin Maiser tallied a pair of goals including the eventual game-winner 43 seconds into the third period to lift the Phoenix RoadRunners to a 3-2 victory over the Fresno Falcons before 2,017 at US Airways Center.

Maiser opened the scoring for Phoenix (4-2-0) just 1:12 seconds into the game tipping Brian Yandle's pass into the slot by the stick of Fresno goalie Kris Mayotte and giving the RoadRunners a 1-0 lead.

Fresno (2-2-2) wasted little time tying the contest at 1-1 early in the second period. Jarrett Konkle beat RoadRunners goalie Nathan Lawson with a shot from outside the left-wing circle 49 seconds into the period to even up the score. The RoadRunners would grab the lead back at 10:36 of the second on the power play when Sean O'Connor re-directed Yandle's shot from the right point through the pads of Mayotte for a 2-1 advantage heading into the second intermission.

Maiser potted his second goal of the game on the RoadRunners first rush of the third period as he finished off a nifty pass from Peder Skinner and extended the lead to 3-1. Fresno's continual pressure would finally pay off when Pierre-Olivier Beaulieu cut the Falcons deficit to 3-2 after scoring at 11:13 of the third. However, despite pulling Mayotte late in the contest for an extra attacker and having an offensive zone face-off with 13.3 seconds remaining in regulation, the Falcons could not net the equalizer.

Fresno out-shot Phoenix 38-33. Lawson stopped a season-high 36 shots to improve to 2-1-0 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-5 on the power play and held Fresno to 0-3 with the man-advantage.

Saturday, five different players tallied a goal and the Fresno Falcons staved off a furious third period rally to defeat the Phoenix RoadRunners 5-3 before 3,263 at US Airways Center.

Fresno (3-2-2) jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead with a pair of power play goals. Brett Hemingway opened the scoring at 7:03 collecting the loose puck on the end line and slipping it behind RoadRunners goalie Cody Rudkowsky for a 1-0 lead. Jarrett Konkle extended the lead to 2-0 at 18:43 on the power play as he grabbed his own rebound off a block shot and beat a sliding Rudkowsky from the left-wing circle.

Pierre-Olivier Beaulieu gave the Falcons a 3-0 advantage at 4:10 of the second period beating a screened Rudkowsky with a slap shot from the left-wing circle.

Josh Ciocco tallied his first professional goal 2:40 into the third period giving the Falcons a commanding 4-0 lead. The RoadRunners (4-3-0) would finally respond scoring three times in a span of 1:10 seconds to cut their deficit to 4-3. Ian Turner opened the scoring at 4:44 when he beat Fresno goalie John Ceci with a slap shot from the left point. Peder Skinner then tipped one through the pads of Ceci 55 seconds later off a centering pass from Mitch Carefoot cutting the RoadRunners deficit in half to 4-2. Thatcher Bell capped the Phoenix scoring for the night when he beat Ceci over the glove 15 seconds later at 5:54 to bring the RoadRunners within a single tally at 4-3. Igor Gongalsky added a big insurance goal at 13:57 re-directing Dan Glover's shot from the point past Rudkowsky.

Phoenix out-shot Fresno 52-34. Rudkowsky stopped 29 shots to fall to 2-2-0 on the year. The RoadRunners went 0-8 on the power play while Fresno was 2-4 with the man-advantage.

BIG FINISHES: The RoadRunners set an ECHL club record Saturday by scoring three times in a span of 1:10 seconds in the third period. The ECHL record for fastest three goals scored by one team is 21 seconds set back on Nov. 29, 1988 by the Erie (Pa.) Panthers. It was the second time in their last three games that Phoenix has scored in bunches late in the game. On Oct. 26 vs. Bakersfield, Brian Yandle, Thatcher Bell, and Justin Maiser all scored in a stretch of 3:29 seconds during the final 4:01 of regulation of an eventual 6-5 loss. The RoadRunners have outscored their opponents 11-7 in third periods, scoring seven of those goals in the last three games alone.

BOMBS AWAY: Phoenix set an ECHL season-high with their 52 shots on goal Saturday. 25 of those shots came in the third period alone, which were both an ECHL club record and an ECHL season-high for shots in a single period. The RoadRunners came within two shots of tying their club record for total shots in a single game of 54 set twice last season on Oct. 20, 2006 vs. Utah and Dec. 12, 2006 vs. Victoria.

TOUGH TEST: The RoadRunners will play arguably their toughest stretch of the season this coming week with five games in six nights. Phoenix welcomes the Stockton Thunder for a three-game series Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and then hosts the Las Vegas Wranglers in a two-game set Saturday and Sunday.

YANDLE AMONG DEFENSIVE LEADERS: Defenseman Brian Yandle has two goals and three assists in his last three games, and has surged through the ranks of ECHL defensemen. With seven points (two goals, five assists) in seven games, Yandle leads all RoadRunners' blue-liners and ranks tied for third among ECHL defensemen in scoring. The second-year professional and Milton, Mass. native tallied four goals and 14 points in just 28 games during an injury-plagued rookie season in 2006-07.

FORMER ROADRUNNER FITZPATRICK SETS RECORD: Former RoadRunners' forward Chanse Fitzpatrick set an ECHL record Saturday with four power play goals in a single period, and became just the second player in ECHL history to score five goals in a single period in the Dayton Bombers 5-1 victory over the Trenton Titans. Fitzpatrick scored five times in a span of 17:42 seconds in the third period. Lars Pettersen of Augusta scored five goals, including three on the power play, in the third period of a 7-6 loss to Birmingham on Feb. 11, 1999. Pettersen's goals were scored in a 16:04 span at 2:55, 3:44, 10:09, 11:25 and 18:56.

Eleven players in the National Hockey League have scored four goals in a period while six players have accomplished the deed in the American Hockey League. The last player in the NHL was Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux at Montreal on Jan. 26, 1997 while the last player in the AHL was Cape Breton's Ralph Intranuovo against St. John on Apr. 16, 1996. The record for most goals in an ECHL game is six by Hampton Roads' Tom Bissett on Nov. 22, 1989 against Greensboro and Toledo's Brad McCaughey against Columbus on Nov. 6, 1991.

Fitzpatrick tallied nine goals and 20 points in 36 games with the RoadRunners last season after being acquired in a mid-season trade from the Columbia Inferno.

NEWS & NOTES: Goaltender Cody Rudkowsky started Saturday after being returned on loan from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League that same day. Rudkowsky traveled all day from Rochester (N.Y.) and arrived in Phoenix six hours before opening face-off against Fresno... The RoadRunners placed defenseman Corey LeClair on the three-day injured reserve and transferred defenseman Nick Toneys from the three-day injured reserve to the seven-day injured reserve prior to Saturday's game...Forward Justin Maiser has a goal in five out of the RoadRunners first seven games and leads the team with six goals.

ROADRUNNERS HOST "PINK IN THE RINK" THIS WEEK: The RoadRunners will host their first ever "Pink In The Rink" event Saturday and Sunday during their two-game series against the Las Vegas Wranglers to raise breast cancer awareness throughout the Valley.

For both games Saturday and Sunday, the RoadRunners will skate on pink ice at US Airways Center while wearing specially-designed, limited-edition pink jerseys. These game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off in a silent auction throughout the weekend, and all proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The RoadRunners will also recognize local breast cancer survivors during pre-game ceremonies Saturday and Sunday.

Fans can do their part and support "Pink In The Rink" by purchasing $15 ticket packages that include a ticket to the game, a hot dog, and a soda. $2 of each ticket sold will also benefit the Komen Foundation. To purchase your special "Pink In The Rink" ticket package, contact the RoadRunners at (602) 379-7869.

The first 1,000 fans both nights will also receive pink Thunderstix in support of this cause.

WATCH THE ‘RUNNERS LIVE IN '07-08: 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 conclude their season-opening 12-game home-stand with a three-game series against the Stockton Thunder at 7:11 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and a two-game set against the Las Vegas Wranglers at 7:11 p.m. Saturday and 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office. 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.

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