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Roadrunners work overtime for 3 points in Canada

December 2, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners took three points in their three-game series with the Victoria Salmon Kings as each game was decided in overtime or a shootout. With a record of 6-9-3 and 15 points, the RoadRunners are currently fifth in the West Division and eighth overall in the National Conference.

Wednesday, Wes Goldie tallied the game-winning goal with 1:52 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Victoria Salmon Kings to a 4-3 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 4,205 at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

Phoenix (6-9-1) opened the scoring at 11:21 of the first period when Thatcher Bell re-directed Chris Stevens' shot from the blue line past Salmon Kings goalie Julien Ellis for a 1-0 lead.

Victoria (12-5-0) evened the score at 1-1 when Ash Goldie off a RoadRunners turnover slipped behind the defense and beat goaltender Cody Rudkowsky with a backhand shot at 7:29 of the second period. The Salmon Kings grabbed their first lead of the night with a shorthanded goal from Jordan Krestanovich at 10:54. The RoadRunners would counter on the same power play as Justin Maiser tipped the puck to a wide-open Sean O'Connor at the side of the net, and O'Connor tapped it into the cage at 12:05 to tie the score at 2-2 heading into the intermission.

The RoadRunners reclaimed the lead 3:16 into the third period as Daniel Sisca scored a power play goal giving Phoenix a 3-2 edge. But, Victoria was not to be denied as Marc-Andre Bernier netted the equalizer at 5:09 of the period setting up overtime and Goldie's game-winner.

Victoria out-shot Phoenix 51-35. Cody Rudkowsky stopped 47 shots but fell to 3-7-1 on the season. The RoadRunners went 2-5 on the power play while Victoria was 0-6 with the man-advantage.

Thursday, Kiel McLeod scored the game-winning goal in the sixth round of the shootout to lift the Victoria Salmon Kings to a 4-3 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 3,231 at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

Following a scoreless first period, the RoadRunners (6-9-2) struck first as Chris Stevens potted his second goal of the season 3:08 into the second period for a 1-0 lead. Victoria (13-5-0) would then go on to score the next three goals. Wes Goldie tied the contest at 1-1 as he pounced on Ash Goldie's rebound and slapped it back into the net at 13:36 of the second.

Derek Krestanovich gave the Salmon Kings their first lead of the night at 2-1 when he re-directed Gary Gladue's shot from the point by RoadRunners goalie Dave McKee just 1:33 into the third. Matt Kelly extended the lead to 3-1 tipping Marc-Andre Bernier's centering pass behind McKee at 5:02 of the third period on the power play. Corey LeClair got one back for the RoadRunners scoring on a slap shot from the blue line at 6:33. With McKee off the ice and the extra attacker on late in the contest, Sean O'Connor scored the game-tying goal off a broken play in front of Victoria net-minder Billy Thompson with 41.2 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime.

After a scoreless overtime, Brian Yandle scored in the fourth round of the shootout to give the RoadRunners the lead, but Chris St. Jacques tied it in round five setting up McLeod's game-winner.

Victoria out-shot Phoenix 45-39. McKee stopped 41 shots but fell to 0-1-1 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-1 on the power play while Victoria was 1-4 with the man-advantage.

Friday, Ash Goldie scored his second goal of the night 1:00 minute into overtime to lift the Victoria Salmon Kings to a 5-4 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 5,810 at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

A wild first period saw a combined six goals between the teams. The RoadRunners Peder Skinner opened the scoring at 1:18 of the period slipping past the Victoria defense and beating Salmon Kings goalie Julien Ellis to the blocker side. Victoria (14-5-0) wasted little time tying the score as Chris St. Jacques beat RoadRunners goalie Cody Rudkowsky on a breakaway 29 seconds after the Skinner goal at 1:47. The RoadRunners (6-9-3) reclaimed the lead at 2:56 when Ryan Walsh stuffed his own rebound behind Ellis for a 2-1 advantage. Chris Stevens made it 3-1 at 4:32 when he collected Thatcher Bell's rebound and rifled it past Ellis. Kevin Estrada cut the deficit to a single goal at 10:44, but the RoadRunners got a power play tally from Justin Maiser at 13:00 to go to the intermission with a 4-2 lead.

The Salmon Kings tied the score with two goals in the final five minutes of regulation. Jordan Krestanovich whipped a shot past Rudkowsky from the right-wing circle at 16:00 of the third on the power play to close the gap to 4-3. Goldie evened the score 1:22 seconds later when he put back Kevin Estrada's rebound at 17:22.

Goldie later scored the game-winner from the right-wing circle on the power play in the opening minute of overtime.

Victoria out-shot Phoenix 42-32. Rudkowsky stopped 37 shots but fell to 3-7-2 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-3 on the power play while Victoria was 2-5 with the man-advantage.

WORKING OVERTIME: After starting the 2007-08 season with 15 consecutive regulation decisions, the RoadRunners have played three straight games that been decided in either overtime or shootout. Phoenix became the last ECHL club this year to play an overtime game Wednesday. With points in three consecutive games, the RoadRunners are currently riding their longest unbeaten streak in regulation since rattling off three straight victories over the Utah Grizzlies Oct. 19-21 at US Airways Center.

THREE'S COMPANY: Several RoadRunners have three-game scoring streaks entering play this week. Center Daniel Sisca has one goal and three assists in his last three games; forward Sean O'Connor has two goals and two assists in his last three games; rookie forward Thatcher Bell has one goal and two assists in his last three games; forward Jeff Kyrzakos has three assists in his last three games; and rookie forward Chris Stevens has two goals and an assist in his last three games.

LINE ITEM: The RoadRunners line of Thatcher Bell-Jeff Kyrzakos-Chris Stevens has been the team's most productive as of recent times. After combining for three goals and six assists during the three-game series at Victoria, the line has six goals and nine assists on the current eight-game road trip. Bell and Stevens are tied for second among RoadRunners' rookies with 10 points each, while Kyrzakos is tied for second overall in scoring with seven goals and 16 points.

MILESTONE WATCH: Defenseman Reagan Rome is 12 games away from 350 for his career; center Daniel Sisca is three assists shy of 100 career assists; forward Sean O'Connor collected his 50th career assist in Victoria Saturday; center Scott Kelman is three games shy of 300 career games; and goalie Cody Rudkowsky appeared in his 317th career game Saturday.

NEWS & NOTES: Rookie forward Steve Covington collected his first career point with an assist on Ryan Walsh's goal Saturday...The RoadRunners have scored the first goal in four out of their last five games after allowing the first tally in six straight contests...defenseman Brian Yandle is 10th among ECHL blue-liners in scoring with five goals and 13 points...forward Jeff Smith is eligible to return from the 30-day injured reserve Tuesday.

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.

ROADRUNNERS HOST KIDS COAT DRIVE FOR OPERATION SANTA CLAUSE: The RoadRunners will host a "Kids Coat Drive" at home games Thursday and Friday to benefit Sanderson Ford's 6th annual Operation Santa Clause. Fans attending both games are encouraged to bring new and used kids coats in good condition to donate to the cause.

UP NEXT: The RoadRunners conclude their eight-game road trip at 7:05 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Utah, and then return to US Airways Center at 7:11 p.m. Thursday and Friday to welcome the Victoria Salmon Kings. Catch Tuesday's away action and both home games live on Independent 1310 KXAM, and all four contests at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" twenty minutes prior to face-off. 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.



ECHL Stories from December 2, 2007


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