'Runners Win Again, Sweep
Published on February 6, 2011 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
A solid first period from the RoadRunners paved the way as they cruised to a convincing 6-0 win to complete the three game sweep of Corpus Christi on Saturday night in Topeka.
Mustering only three shots in the first period on Friday night, Topeka fired off 4 shots in the first two and a half minutes on Saturday and kept the pressure on. The 'Runners scored first on a shorthanded goal at 12:03 when Ryan White intercepted an Ice Ray pass and fed the puck to Nate Milam who snapped it home off the pipe for the 1-0 lead. :13 seconds later Brian Christie fired a shot that clanged squarely off the pipe but he got another chance on the same shift when Alex Vazquez muscled the puck into the Ice Rays zone where Nate Milam picked it up and toe dragged the puck around a sliding defenseman before slipping a pass to Christie who punched it home for a 2-0 lead at 12:42. Topeka led 2-0 after 1, outshooting the Ice Rays 11-7.
The second period was closely contested and began to boil over late in the frame. 64 penalty minutes were handed out including two fights and an ejection. The only goal came at 19:27 when Michael Hill tapped in a loose puck on an opportunity created by the hard work of Justin Hussar and Daniel Dupell. It was an even strength goal officially though it was scored at the moment a power play expired. Topeka led 3-0 after 2.
In the final period, another 130 penalty minutes were handed out, along with another fight and 4 game ejections. In the midst of all the ruckus, Topeka added three more goals. Nate Milam scored his second of the night as he fluttered a rebound over Pheonix Copley for a 4-0 lead at 6:19. Kyle Sharkey scored on a power play at 17:33 on a rebound and Daniel Dupell tucked in a backhander at 19:37 for the final margin. Rasmus Tirronen turned aside 23 shots to post his third shutout of the year and second in his last three games.
Topeka (31-8-3) finished their longest homestand of the season with a 6-0-1 record. They now begin their longest road swing of seven games beginning Thursday in New Mexico (12-28-3). Despite their losing record, the Mustangs are 9-10-0 at the Santa Ana Star Center. The three games all start at 7:30 pm Mountain Time.
ROADRUNNER RAMBLINGS
* The RoadRunners mathematically clinched a post season berth with their win Saturday night. Their .774 win pct is tops in the NAHL, and they are the only team still in single digits in the loss column.
* Topeka has three players in the Top 25 in scoring.
* Both RoadRunners goalies are in the Top 10 in goals against average.
* RoadRunner Captain Michael Hill scored his 30th goal of the season Saturday night. Only four other RoadRunners have hit that mark, and Hill is the only one to do it twice, scoring 31 last year. (Tibor Kutalek - 44, Corey Stark - 37, Corey Jendras and Eriah Hayes - 30.)
North American Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2011
- Stars Face-Off for Father Fred in February - Traverse City North Stars
- 'Runners Win Again, Sweep - Topeka Pilots
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