'Runners Power past IceRays
February 4, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
A cursory glance at the special teams numbers in the first three games the Topeka RoadRunners played against Corpus Christi revealed two things. The Ice Rays take a lot of penalties, and Topeka cashes in on over half of them. It was power plays that made the difference in Thursday's 5-3 win for the RoadRunners at home over Corpus Christi.
Michael Hill scored first at 13:51 off a nice pass from Cory Ramsey, the shot clanging off the inside of the stick side post and across into the net. It was Hill's 25th goal of the year, and it would be the only even strength goal of the game. Corpus Christi tied the game late in the frame when Jason Souva deflected a Colton Saucerman shot over the blocker of Rasmus Tirronen, ending a streak of 112 minutes and 54 seconds without allowing a goal. The game was tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes of play.
The second period was not good for Topeka. The Ice Rays took a lead over the 'Runners for the first time in four games when Beau Walker lifted a rebound over Tirronen at 3:45 (on the PP) for a 2-1 edge. The lead grew to 3-1 when Jason Souva buried a low shot past Tirronen (on the PP) at 9:54, a shot the 'Runners goalie never saw through traffic. After allowing 13 Ice Ray shots in the period before registering their first, the RoadRunners saw signs of life when Bob Marx fired home a power play goal at 16:21 to close the gap to 3-2. Corpus Christi outshot Topeka in the second period 15-5.
The leagues most penalized team was whistled for cross checking just :24 seconds into the third period, and Topeka's power play woke up. The 'Runners were an astonishingly good 11 for 21 on power plays against the Ice Rays in the first three games, but were stifled on their first four of the game until the second period Marx goal. The longest tenured player on the roster, Marx struck again on the power play :25 seconds later, a shot from the right point that muscled its way under the leg pad of Pheonix Copley to tie the game at 3-3. Michael Hill put his team up 4-3 when he bounced the puck from behind the goal line off the body of the goalie into the net at 13:12, again on the power play. For good measure, Hill completed the hat trick with a crisp hard shot at 16:54 for the 5-3 final. Tirronen had to stop a short handed breakaway late in the third but the 'Runners held on for the win.
Topeka (29-8-3) and Corpus Christi (17-24-2) meet in the second of three games Friday night at 7:05.
ROADRUNNER RAMBLINGS
* The RoadRunners stay six points ahead of the Texas Tornado who won Thursday night, defeating New Mexico 4-3.
* Forward Brian Christie missed the game due to travel problems with the winter storms. He had been away on a college visit. It was the first game he's missed this season.
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North American Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2011
- Souva's Late Tying Goal Waived Off, Rays Fall, 5-3 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Bulls knock off Mustangs 2-1 - Amarillo Bulls
- 'Runners Power past IceRays - Topeka Pilots
- IceRays Head Coach, Michigan Reporter on Puska on Pucks - OSC Original by Denis Puska
- Texas Tornado Home Game Tonight Cancelled - Texas Tornado
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