RoadRunnners Top Grizzlies 4-3 In A Shootout

December 3, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - Jeff Kyrzakos scored the go-ahead goal in the sixth round of the sudden death shootout to lift the Phoenix RoadRunners to a 4-3 win over the Utah Grizzlies before 1,987 at the "E-Center in ECHL action Monday.

Phoenix (7-9-3) built a 2-0 first period lead on goals from Thatcher Bell and Kyrzakos. The RoadRunners opened the scoring at 13:30 when a Utah giveaway behind the Grizzlies net turned into a scoring chance, and Bell snapped a shot behind goalie Mike Mole on a feed from Chris Stevens for a 1-0 lead. Kyrzakos made it 2-0 at 19:52 on the power play when he stuffed his own rebound through Mole in the closing seconds of the first.

Utah (10-9-2) got on the scoreboard at 12:23 of the second period when Justin Bourne moved a backhand shot past RoadRunners' goalie Cody Rudkowsky to cut the lead to 2-1. Phoenix regained their two-goal advantage right back on the power play as Sean O'Connor deflected Reagan Rome's slap shot over the left shoulder of Mole and into the net at 14:47 of the period. However, 17 seconds after the O'Connor tally, Ian Forbes was credited with his first goal of the season when his pass to the net deflected off a RoadRunners' skate and trickled into the cage trimming the Phoenix lead to 3-2.

Utah's Jason Pitton later tied the game at 3-3 scoring a power play goal at 13:39 of the third period setting up overtime and the eventual shootout.

Ryan Walsh also scored a shootout goal for Phoenix, while Tyler Haskins had the lone shootout goal for Utah as Rudkowsky stopped five of six shooters in the shootout.

Utah out-shot Phoenix 49-35. Rudkowsky stopped 46 shots to improve to 4-7-2 on the season. The RoadRunners went 2-7 on the power play while Utah was 1-7 with the man-advantage.

Notes: Kyrzakos, Bell, Stevens, O'Connor and Daniel Sisca all extended their respective scoring streaks to four games...Bell left early in the second period with an undisclosed injury after receiving a check from Utah's Michael Haley...Phoenix improved to 4-4-1 lifetime at the "E"-Center...The RoadRunners allowed less than four goals for the first time in 13 games dating back to Nov. 1 against Fresno.

The RoadRunners conclude their eight-game road trip at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday against the Utah Grizzlies from the "E"-Center. Catch all the action live on Independent 1310 KXAM and at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" at 6:45 p.m.

Phoenix returns to US Airways Center at 7:11 p.m. Thursday as they open a two-game series with the visiting Victoria Salmon Kings.

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.



ECHL Stories from December 3, 2007


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