'Runners Stay Hot with Road Win
Published on February 19, 2011 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
The Topeka RoadRunners dominated early and then held off a late Jr. Blues comeback attempt to post a 6-4 victory on Friday night at the Nelson Center in Springfield, IL.
Topeka looked sharp from the outset, and the line of Jordan Davis, Michael Hill and Justin Hussar exploded for a 4-goal outburst in the first period. Michael Hill scored first at 3:55, firing home a rebound from the right wing assisted by Davis and Hussar. Then it was Justin Hussar flying down the left wing and muscling a low shot under the pads of Jr. Blues goalie Caleb Neal at 9:47 for the 2-0 lead. Hussar tallied again, tucking home a loose puck in the crease at 12:30, and he later set up Michael Hill in the high slot for a slick wrister high on the glove side for a 4-0 lead. Hussar and Hill each had two goals and two assists in the first period alone, while Jordan Davis added two assists himself.
In the second period, Kyle Cook snapped a shorthanded goal off the glove of Rasmus Tirronen to make it 4-1 at 2:36, but then Justin Hussar completed his hat trick at 10:06 with Michael Hill and Bob Marx garnering assists. Hill headmanned a crisp pass to Hussar on the left wing who split the defense and buried a low glove side snap shot to make it 5-1. Topeka continued the barrage as Bob Marx netted his sixth of the year on the power play with a seeing eye shot from the right point through traffic. Springfield hung around, though, as Gavin Tufte buried a shot with :25 seconds left in the second period to make it a 6-2 game.
The third period belonged to Springfield, as they added two more tallies to make it close. Leading scorer Ethan Nauman tallied on the power play at 3:08 and Gavin Tufte struck for his second of the night at 9:18 as he drove down the right wing and cut to the net slipping a low shot behind Tirronen to make it 6-4 but Topeka closed out the victory for their 34th win of the season, improving to 3-1-1 vs Springfield this season. Tirronen made 30 saves, picking up his 20th win of the season.
Topeka (34-9-3) faces Springfield (21-21-3) for the final time this season on Saturday night, game time is set for 7:00 pm.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2011
- Bridgetown brooming: Stars complete sweep - Traverse City North Stars
- 'Runners Stay Hot with Road Win - Topeka Pilots
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