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RoadRunners Weekly

March 24, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


PHOENIX, Ariz. - WEEK RECORD 0-2-1 - SEASON RECORD 22-35-9 - 5TH WEST DIVISION

'RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners saw their ECHL club record four-game home winning streak and season-high six-game unbeaten streak come to an end after collecting just a single point in three games. With a record of 22-35-9 and 53 points, the RoadRunners are currently fifth in the West Division and tied for seventh overall in the National Conference with the Stockton Thunder. Both the Thunder and RoadRunners have a two point lead over the Bakersfield Condors who are currently on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. Stockton has played one fewer game than Phoenix and Bakersfield.

Tuesday, goalie Jake Moreland stopped all five shooters in the shootout and Josh Prudden scored the lone goal in the opening round to lift the Fresno Falcons to a 2-1 shootout win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 3,051 at US Airways Center.

Fresno (37-17-8) opened the scoring at 9:16 when Matt Quinn cut into the high slot and ripped a shot over the glove of RoadRunners goalie Taylor Dakers for a 1-0 lead.

The RoadRunners (22-33-9) tied the contest at 1-1 at 4:21 of the second period as Ryan Walsh intercepted Moreland's clearing attempt at the right-wing circle, and Walsh snapped the puck back into the net past out an out of position Moreland for the equalizer.

Despite a combined 32 shots on goal in the third period and overtime, both goaltenders kept the puck out of the back of the net to send the game to the eventual shootout where the Falcons emerged victorious.

Phoenix out-shot Fresno 42-37. Dakers stopped 35 shots but fell to 4-1-2 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-6 on the power play while Fresno was 0-5 with the man-advantage.

Thursday, goaltender Kris Mayotte stopped 31 shots and Mike Ramsay tallied a goal and added an assist to lead the Fresno Falcons to a 2-0 shutout win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 3,303 at US Airways Center.

For a second straight night the Falcons (38-17-8) struck first as Ramsay scooped up the loose puck at the left-wing circle and snapped a shot through RoadRunners goalie Taylor Dakers at 6:39 for a 1-0 lead.

Spencer Carbery extended the lead to two in the latter stages of the second period on a delayed penalty as he jammed his own rebound off Dakers' skate and into the net at 18:34 for a 2-0 advantage.

That would be more than enough for Mayotte who shut the door on the RoadRunners the rest of the way to collect his first shutout of the season.

Fresno out-shot Phoenix 32-31. Dakers stopped 30 shots but fell to 4-2-2 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-4 on the power play while Fresno was also 0-4 with the man-advantage.

Sunday, Nathan Barrett tallied a pair of goals to lift the Las Vegas Wranglers to a 4-1 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 4,575 at the Orleans Arena.

Las Vegas (43-12-2) opened the scoring at 4:40 of the first period when Barrett finished off a two-way rush down the ice with Jim Jorgensen and tipped the puck behind RoadRunners goalie Taylor Dakers for a 1-0 lead. Barrett tallied his second of the contest later in the period when he received a long lead pass from Aaron Power, made a move around Dakers, and slipped the puck into the empty cage at 17:25 for the score and a 2-0 advantage.

The Wranglers continued their attack in the second period as Adam Miller scored his first professional goal 16:41 to extend the Las Vegas lead to 3-0 after forty minutes.

Phoenix (22-35-9) tried to mount a comeback late in the third period as they pulled Dakers for an extra attacker to begin a power play, but it was Wranglers who ended up scoring as Aki Seitsonen scored a shorthanded empty-net goal at 18:11 to stretch the lead to four. The RoadRunners did finally break a prolonged scoring drought when Ryan Walsh pounced on Tom Sawatske's rebound in the slot and fired it back behind Las Vegas goalie Kevin Lalande at 18:33 on the power play to close the scoring.

Las Vegas out-shot Phoenix 31-26. Dakers stopped 27 shots but fell to 4-3-2 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-7 on the power play while Las Vegas was 0-3 with the man-advantage.

MAGIC NUMBER DOWN TO 11: The RoadRunners reduced their magic number for clinching a second straight berth in the Kelly Cup Playoffs to 11. Any combination of points earned in Phoenix wins and overtime or shootout losses and points surrendered by Bakersfield in regulation losses and overtime or shootout losses equaling 11 will put the RoadRunners in the playoffs.

THREE TEAMS BUT ONLY TWO SPOTS: The RoadRunners (53 points), Stockton Thunder (53 points), and Bakersfield Condors (51) points are fighting for the last two playoff sports in the National Conference. Stockton currently has the edge having played one fewer game than both Phoenix and Bakersfield. The RoadRunners have the toughest schedule of the three teams as five of their remaining six games are against Las Vegas and Alaska who have a combined winning percentage of .672%. They also have the fewest home games remaining of the three clubs with just two contests left at US Airways Center. Stockton enjoys a three-game home-stand this week hosting Victoria Thursday and Saturday and Idaho Friday. The Thunder then finishes the year with a four-game road trip visiting Fresno April 1 and Utah for a three-game series April 3-5. Bakersfield begins a four-game home-stand tonight against Fresno. The Condors will then welcome Victoria Friday and Utah Saturday and Sunday. Bakersfield finishes the season with road games at the RoadRunners April 3 and at Las Vegas April 4.

WELL RUNS DRY: After scoring 11 goals in two games last week against Victoria, the RoadRunners were limited to two Ryan Walsh goals in three games this week. Until Walsh's second goal at 18:33 of the third period Sunday, Phoenix had gone six full periods and 154:04 minutes without scoring.

PENALTY KILL SETS RECORD: The RoadRunners killed off 12 more penalties this week to extend their ECHL club record to 31 straight power plays allowed without surrendering a goal. Phoenix has not given up a power play goal since March 6 against Bakersfield, six games ago.

NEWS & NOTES: Defenseman Gerard Miller signed a professional try-out offer (PTO) with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League Sunday...Forward Dusty Jamieson leads the club this month with five goals and 10 points in eight games...Defenseman Taylor Christie is three games shy of 200 for his professional career...Center Thatcher Bell was activated off the injured reserve and appeared in his first game Tuesday since Feb. 15. Bell missed 13 games after receiving a blow to the head from Idaho's Lance Galbraith.

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 2007-08. 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 72 RoadRunners broadcasts will be available on-line. A cable or DSL Internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 are required to view the games.

UP NEXT: The RoadRunners continue their final road trip of the regular season with a three-game series this week at Alaska at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Catch all the action of all three games live on Independent 1310 KXAM and at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" twenty minutes prior to face-off. Phoenix returns to US Airways Center at 7:11 p.m. Tuesday, April 1 as they welcome the Las Vegas Wranglers. Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online at 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.

PHOENIX ROADRUNNERS SCHEDULE WEEK OF MARCH 24TH

Monday, Mar. 24: Practice 10AM-11:30AM @ Alltel Ice Den

Tuesday, Mar. 25: Practice 10AM-11:30AM @ Alltel Ice Den; Travel day to Anchorage

Wednesday, Mar. 26: Morning skate 12:15PM-1:15PM; Phoenix @ Alaska 8:15PM

Thursday, Mar. 27: Off day

Friday, Mar. 28: Morning skate 12:15PM-1:15PM; Phoenix @ Alaska 8:15PM

Saturday, Mar. 29: Morning skate 12:15PM-1:15PM; Phoenix @ Alaska 8:15PM

Sunday, Mar. 30: Travel day to Phoenix



ECHL Stories from March 24, 2008


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.

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