Salmon Kings Stun RoadRunners 5-4 In A Shootout
Published on December 6, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Kiel McLeod scored the game-winning goal in the fifth round of the shootout to complete an improbable comeback and lead the Victoria Salmon Kings to a 5-4 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 3,062 at US Airways Center in ECHL action Thursday.
The RoadRunners (7-10-4) opened the scoring 13:48 into the first period when Mitch Carefoot tapped Peder Skinner's lead pass behind Victoria goalie Julien Ellis for a 1-0 lead.
Phoenix padded their lead to 4-0 with three second period goals. Sean O'Connor started the middle period scoring when he stuffed home Daniel Sisca's rebound at 1:52 on the power play. Jeff Kyrzakos extended the lead to 3-0 when he re-directed Corey LeClair's point shot behind Ellis at 11:40. LeClair then got into the scoring act late in the period as he beat a screened Ellis with a slap shot from the right point at 19:08 to give the RoadRunners what appeared to be a commanding 4-0 advantage after 40 minutes.
Victoria (15-5-0) started their comeback at 5:40 of the third period on the power play when McLeod beat RoadRunners' goalie Cody Rudkowsky from the slot to get the Salmon Kings on the scoreboard. Kevin Estrada cut the deficit to 4-2 after whipping a shot off Rudkowsky's glove and into the net at 7:33. Marc-Andre Bernier made it a one-goal hockey game when he snuck around the defense and lifted the puck over Rudkowsky's glove at 14:24. Jordan Krestanovich netted the equalizer at 17:17 stuffing the rebound through Rudkowsky to tie the contest at 4-4.
Following a scoreless overtime, Ryan Walsh scored in the fourth round of the shootout to give the RoadRunners a 1-0 advantage. However, Victoria's Milan Gajic tied the shootout in the fourth round and McLeod followed up with the winning goal in round five.
Victoria out-shot Phoenix 46-34. Rudkowsky stopped 41 shots but fell to 4-7-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-5 on the power play while Victoria was 1-4 with the man-advantage.
Notes: Kyrzakos' goal extended his career-high scoring streak to six with his second period goal and now has a three-game goal streak...Forward Jeff Smith was activated off the 30-day injured reserve prior to the game and made his first appearance in the line-up since Nov. 3...All four RoadRunners-Salmon Kings' games have gone into overtime and two of them have been decided in a shootout.
Phoenix concludes their two-game series with the visiting Victoria Salmon Kings at 7:11 p.m. Friday at US Airways Center. The RoadRunners will once again be hosting their first ever Kids Coat Drive to benefit Sanderson Ford's sixth annual "Operation Santa Claus". Fans are encouraged to bring new and used kids coats to drop off in the Casino Arizona Pavilion.
Catch all the action live on Independent 1310 KXAM and at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" at 6:45 p.m.
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 6, 2007
- Losing Streak Over; Aces Drop Condors, 4-1 - Alaska Aces
- Salmon Kings Stun RoadRunners 5-4 In A Shootout - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Third Period Comeback Lifts Gladiators over Everblades, 3-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Blades win streak ends with 3-1 loss to Gwinnett - Florida Everblades
- Goaltender Danny Taylor Recalled To Manchester - Reading Royals
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Checkers Kenny Smith Loaned To Providence - Charlotte Checkers
- Cashman sent down while Fussey goes up - Columbia Inferno
- Shop With The Sea Wolves On December 10 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Wranglers goalie Manzato named ECHL Saver of the Month - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Blades have three added; lose one to AHL - Florida Everblades
- Las Vegas's Manzato Named RBC Financial Group ECHL Saver Of The Month - ECHL
- RoadRunners Bolster Blue Line With Nathe - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Cincinnati's Daoust Named CCM TACKS ECHL Player Of The Month - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Cyclones Daoust Named CCM TACKS ECHL Player of the Month - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Cincinnati's Desharnais Named CCM Vector Rookie Of The Month - ECHL
- Rays Team up with Cricket Communications for Toys for Tots Campaign - South Carolina Stingrays
- Defenseman Andy Rogers Reassigned To Mississippi - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Cyclones Desharnais Named CCM Vector ECHL Rookie of the Month - Cincinnati Cyclones
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Jackals Stumble Late, Prevail In Shootout 5-4 - Elmira Jackals
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
