'Runners Pick up Road Win in OT
October 3, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
After dropping two games in St. Louis the previous weekend, Topeka was looking for a reversal of fortune and found it by posting a 4-3 overtime win on the road in Wichita Falls on Saturday night.
The Wildcats power play gave them a 1-0 lead on a Dennis Kravchenko goal at 15:25 but Topeka tied it up at 18:38 after a Luke Veitch blast caromed off the end boards to Brian Christie who snuck around and jammed home the wraparound to tie the game at 1-1. The 'Runners outshot Wichita Falls 19-8 in the first,
The only goal of the second period was a power play goal buried byBen Bahe on a nice feed from Julian Van Lijden behind the net at 17:18 and Topeka led 2-1 after 2, outshooting the 'Cats 30-16. At the end of the period, 'Cats forward Renato Engler fired a shot after the buzzer and was penalized, giving Topeka a power play to start the third.
The man advantage didn't help. It was Wichita Falls forward Dennis Kravchenko who scored on a shorthanded breakaway to knot the game at 2-2 just 1:10 into the period, and the 'Cats took a 3-2 lead when Engler scored his first of the year at 8:30. Topeka tied it up when Kyle Sharkey ripped a 5-hole shot through Tyler Green's pads at 12:54 and regulation wound down in a 3-3 tie.
The 'Cats were coming off a 4-3 shootout win their last time out against Fairbanks, but there would be no shootout in this game.Jake Lynes drove to the net from the left wing corner, and the puck came out to Brian Christie who roofed it for the 4-3 Topeka victory, his fifth goal of the season. Josh Hillegas stopped 28 of 31 shots he faced.
Topeka (3-3-1) and Wichita Falls (2-4-1) meet again Sunday at 5:05 in the Kay Yeager Coliseum.
North American Hockey League Stories from October 3, 2011
- DeAugustine's Road Heroics Earn Three Stars Award - Bismarck Bobcats
- 'Runners Back over .500 with Road Sweep - Topeka Pilots
- 'Runners Pick up Road Win in OT - Topeka Pilots
- Monsters Weekly - Fresno Monsters
- NAHL Announces 3 Stars of the Week - NAHL
- Topeka Takes Two - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Warriors Hold off Shot-Happy North Stars - Traverse City North Stars
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