RoadRunners Win On Saturday
Published on January 26, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
(TOPEKA, KS) - The Topeka RoadRunners never led Saturday's game until the final goal, and trailed in the game for 58:51 of the 60 minutes played leading to overtime. Still, the Cardiac Kids found a way to get two crucial points in the battle for South supremacy, winning in a shootout, 2-1.
After seeing their own comeback attempt come up short on Friday, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs came out of the gate firing Saturday night, registering the games first goal just :32 seconds in as Austin Block ripped a high shot over the glove side shoulder of Lyle Rocker for an early 1-0 lead. Topeka again dominated the first period, outshooting their Alaskan guests 16-4 through 20 minutes, but the score stood at 1-0 after 1.
The second period was a scoreless affair, with each side battling for puck possession and chances that were met with solid goaltending at each end of the ice. The third period saw more of the same, and Topeka truly felt the pressure mounting when they found themselves down on a 5-on-3 penalty kill for 1:23 with only 3:12 left to play. But the 'Runners, owners of the leagues top penalty kill unit, fought back to even strength and pulled Rocker for the extra attacker with about a minute left to play. The strategy paid off, as Jordan George slammed home the game-tying goal at the right post off a nice crossing feed from Alec Hagaman with just :37 seconds left to play. The game headed to overtime tied at 1-1.
In the extra period, Topeka outshot Fairbanks 4-0, but Ice Dog goalie Joe Phillippi turned each chance aside, forcing a shootout to decide the winner. The Ice Dogs first shooter, Michael Juola made a pretty move to get a wide open side of the net but put the puck off the outside of the post, and that was how it went for the next 3 Fairbanks shooters as well. The first two Topeka shooters were also turned aside, but Andy Inderieden found the top part of the net just under the crossbar to his liking and stashed the puck upstairs where Norman Bates hid his Momma to give the 'Runners a 1-0 edge. Enter Bryon Paulazzo, who dazzled folks in Springfield earlier this year with an amazing, game-winning spinaround shot in a shootout to win the game. That time, he approached from the left, this time, he came in front the right, spun around as he passed the front of the net and backhanded the puck up over Phillippi to clinch the shootout victory. The Expocentre crowd of 1,737 erupted as the 'Runners stole the win, 2-1, and the series, sweeping Fairbanks in all 4 games played in Topeka this season. Lyle Rocker picked up the win, turning aside 23 shots including 4 in the shootout.
The RoadRunners (33-5-4) now await the second place St. Louis Bandits (31-7-5) who make their final visit of the season to Landon Arena this coming weekend, Jan.30-31.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 26, 2009
- Wins Keep Coming for Traverse City - NAHL
- RoadRunners Win On Saturday - Topeka Pilots
- RoadRunner Honored by NAHL - Topeka Pilots
- Phantoms Lend a Hand at St. Patrick's Relay for Life - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Wildcats Play Four, Plus Top Prospects Tournament - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Outlaws' Going Purple for Cancer Awareness - North Iowa Outlaws
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