Series Preview- Tucson Roadrunners vs Manitoba Moose
AHL Tucson Roadrunners

Series Preview- Tucson Roadrunners vs Manitoba Moose

Published on October 27, 2025 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Tucson Roadrunners News Release


Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. AZT, Tucson Arena, Tucson, Arizona

Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m. AZT, Tucson Arena, Tucson, Arizona

Broadcast Info

Tuesday: LISTEN LIVE or on Fox Sports 1450AM | WATCH on AHLtv on Flo Hockey

Wednesday: LISTEN LIVE or on Fox Sports 1450AM | WATCH on AHLtv on Flo Hockey

Officials

Tuesday - Referees: #73 Stan Szczurek, #18 Koletrane Wilson | Linespeople: #35 Grant Crowell, #28 Jake Paugh

Wednesday - Referees: #73 Stan Szczurek, #18 Koletrane Wilson | Linespeople: #33 Andrew Gaggin, #76 Gabe Lomen

Tucson, AZ - The Tucson Roadrunners open the final leg of their six-game homestand this week with a two-game series against the Central Division's Manitoba Moose (1-4-1-0) on Tuesday and Wednesday at Tucson Arena. Puck drop for both matchups is set for 6:30 p.m. MST. The series marks the first two of four meetings between the clubs this season, with Tucson set to visit the Moose at Canada Life Centre on March 21 and 23.

This week's matchup will be the first between the two sides since the Roadrunners' inaugural AHL season in 2016-17 - a fitting non-division opponent for the club's 10th Anniversary season. Tucson enters with a 2-1-1-0 all-time record against Manitoba, including a perfect 2-0 mark on home ice.

While the series wraps up Tucson's six-game homestand, it also concludes Manitoba's six-game road trip. The Moose are still in search of their first road win of the season after falling 4-3 in overtime to the Chicago Wolves on Saturday. Manitoba has allowed four or more goals in each of the first four games of its trip.

The Roadrunners, meanwhile, enter the series coming off a weekend split with the Bakersfield Condors. Tucson earned a 5-1 victory in Friday's series opener before falling 3-1 on Saturday. The Roadrunners have split each of their first three series to begin the season and hold a 3-2-1-0 record overall.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

Still Undefeated

Roadrunners goaltender Matthew Villalta looks to stay perfect after improving to 3-0-0 on Friday night. In his last start, the 26-year-old turned aside 23 consecutive shots over the final 46:23 of play and allowed a season-best one goal in Tucson's 5-1 win over Bakersfield.

Villalta enters the week as one of only 11 AHL goaltenders with three wins this season, with just two netminders across the league owning more-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Sergei Murashov (5) and Colorado's Isak Posch (4). Villalta and Posch are the only goalies in the Pacific Division with at least three victories.

He now sits two wins shy of tying Ivan Prosvetov (54) for second all-time in franchise history.

Rising Rookies

A pair of 20-year-old Roadrunners rookies are quickly climbing the AHL's rookie ranks heading into the series with Manitoba.

Forward Daniil But enters the week tied for third among AHL rookies in goals (3) and tied for fifth in points (5). The former 12th overall pick (2023) is one of just 15 league rookies to score on the power play and ranks tied for ninth among first-year players in shots (15). He's also tied with Ben McCartney for the team lead in goals, and his 15 shots rank third on the team overall. Though held off the scoresheet Saturday, But recently rode a four-game point streak and has collected five points (3g, 2a) in his last five outings.

Forward Noel Nordh enters the series on the first two-game point streak of his AHL career after notching an assist Friday and scoring Tucson's lone goal Saturday. The former third round pick (2023) has four points (2g, 2a) in his last four games and ranks tied for seventh among AHL rookies in goals, tied for 11th in points, and tied for ninth in plus-minus (+3). He is also tied for the league's best shooting percentage (66.7%) with Belleville's Cameron Crotty (former Roadrunner). His plus-three rating also ranks second on the team behind defenseman Maveric Lamoureux (+6).

Great Scott

Veteran defenseman Scott Perunovich enters the series on a two-game point streak after leading Tucson in scoring during the Bakersfield series with three assists. The 27-year-old blueliner owns a team-high five assists this season and ranks third on the team in points (5). He's also produced four points over his last four outings. Across the AHL, only one defenseman has recorded more assists - Rockford's Zac Jones (9) - while Perunovich sits tied for sixth in scoring among league blueliners. In his first season in the desert, the former St. Louis Blue and New York Islander has quickly emerged as a key piece on Tucson's back end.

Numbers to Know:

3.50 - Tucson leads the Pacific Division and ranks tied for sixth in the AHL in goals per game (3.50), totaling 21 goals through six contests. The Roadrunners have scored five goals in each of their three victories this season, marking their best offensive start through six games since 2022-23 (3.83) and the fourth-best in franchise history.

Last year, Tucson finished fifth in the Pacific and 12th in the league in scoring (3.17 goals per game). Their 228 goals were the most by the club since the AHL expanded to a 72-game schedule in 2022-23 - second-best goals per game in franchise history behind the shortened 58-game 2019-20 season (3.41) - and the team looks on pace to surpass that mark this season.

WE'RE DOING IT LIVE

Both games this weekend will be streamed on AHLtv on FloHockey and can be heard live on FOX Sports 1450 AM and the iHeartRadio app. Coverage for both matchups begins at 6:15 p.m. AZT with Roadrunners Warm-Up hosted by David Mooradian.

Fans can secure their seats by using the provided link here.

Check out the Tucson Roadrunners Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from October 27, 2025


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