RoadRunners Win 7-5 Before Record Home Crowd

Published on January 12, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


PHOENIX, Ariz. - Jake Ortmeyer broke a 5-5 tie with 1:37 remaining in regulation by tallying his second power play goal of the night, and the Phoenix RoadRunners salvaged the final game of their three-game series by topping the Idaho Steelheads 7-5 before an all-time record crowd of 7,096 at US Airways Center in ECHL action Saturday.

A wild first period produced six goals and a full-out line brawl at the conclusion of the frame. Idaho (19-15-2) struck first with a power play goal from J.B. Bittner at 4:51. Bittner re-directed Marty Flichel's shot from the point past the stick of RoadRunners goaltender Cody Rudkowsky to give the Steelheads a 1-0 lead. Phoenix (19-16-2) countered with a pair of goals 1:26 seconds apart. Ortmeyer tallied a power play goal at 8:55 from the right-wing circle to tie the game at 1-1. Brett Smith gave the RoadRunners a 2-1 lead at 10:21 as he beat Idaho goalie John Daigneau with a slap shot from 75 feet away at the red line. Idaho then rattled off three unanswered goals to build a 4-2 advantage. Bittner netted his second of the night scoring a shorthanded goal off a RoadRunners turnover at 14:00 to tie the game at 2-2. Flichel gave the Steelheads a 3-2 lead when his push to the cage deflected off a RoadRunners' defenseman's stick and trickled by Rudkowsky and in at 16:33 on the power play. Flichel's second goal of the game capped the first period scoring as he beat Rudkowsky from the blue line at 18:08 also on the man-advantage.

The RoadRunners would battle back with two goals in the second period against emergency back-up goalie Tim Baumgartner on in replace of the injured Daigneau to tie the game at 4-4. Todd Jackson jammed the puck inside the far post and through Baumgartner at 8:37 to cut the Phoenix deficit to 4-3. Brett Smith potted the equalizer at 19:39 on the power play as he deflected Ortmeyer's shot from the point over the shoulder of Baumgartner to knot the score at 4-4 going into the second intermission.

Jackson tallied his second goal of the game 2:51 into the third period to give the RoadRunners a 5-4 advantage. Jackson received Justin Aikins' centering pass in the slot and slipped the puck through Baumgartner's pads and into the net. Derek Nesbitt tied the game for Idaho at 5-5 with a power play goal at 11:46 of the period. That set up Ortmeyer's heroics, as the defenseman beat Baumgartner with a one-time slap shot from the right-wing circle at 18:37 on the power play. Jeff Kyrzakos sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 19:25.

Idaho out-shot Phoenix 44-25. Morrison made 26 saves in relief of Rudkowsky to earn the win and improve to 6-4-1 on the season. The RoadRunners went 3-5 on the power play while Idaho was 4-9 on the man-advantage.

Notes: The scrum at the end of the first period produced a combined 128 minutes worth of penalties. Rudkowsky, Chanse Fitzpatrick, Dusty Demianiuk, and Lance Monych were assessed game misconducts for their actions. The two clubs posted a season-high 162 penalty minutes...Phoenix snapped a three-game losing streak...Idaho finished the series 8-27 on the power play...The RoadRunners along with the rest of the ECHL will be off Tuesday through Thursday in honor of the annual ECHL All-Star Break. The 2007 RBK Hockey ECHL All-Star Game featuring the National Conference All-Stars and the American Conference All-Stars will be at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday from Qwest Arena in Boise.

The RoadRunners and Idaho Steelheads continue their unique five-game series with the opening game of a two-game set at 7:10 p.m. Friday from Qwest Arena in Boise. Catch all the action live by logging on to www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" at 6:50 p.m.

Phoenix returns to US Airways Center at 7:11 p.m. Tuesday, January 30 as they welcome the Stockton Thunder. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

Individual game tickets for the 2006-07 regular season start as low $7 in the lower section and can be purchased at the US Airways Center Box Office and at all Ticketmaster outlets including Ticketmaster.com. Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.

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