Tornado swept for first time this season with 5-1 loss at Topeka
November 20, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Texas Tornado News Release
Another lackluster 2nd period performance doomed the Tornado as they were swept for the first time all season by a team, as Topeka defeated Texas by a 5-1 score in Topeka Saturday night. Rock Einersen had the lone Tornado goal and Jake Stafford made 25 saves for Texas in the loss.
A very evenly matched 1st period saw both teams fire 10 shots on goal, but both were unable to find the back of the net. The Tornado had two early power plays, but Roadrunners goaltender Rasmus Tirronen made a couple of sprawling saves to keep the Tornado off the board. At the other end, Tornado goaltender Jake Stafford held the fort for Texas as Topeka went scoreless on three power plays.
The Tornado entered the 2nd period hoping to improve on their 2nd period performance the last couple of games, but it wasn't to be. Daniel Duppell struck for the Roadrunners as a loose puck in front got goaltender Jake Stafford scrambling and Duppell poked home the rebound for a 1-0 Topeka lead. The goal was the first Stafford had allowed in his last 163 minutes. Five minutes later, the Roadrunners would make it 2-0. The Tornado got running around in their own zone and left Hill alone in front. Hill got a pass from behind the net and walked in alone on Stafford, and fired one over his glove. The 2nd period of horrors continued for Texas as Topeka made it 3-0 with an unassisted goal from Joe Van Antwerp, who beat the Tornado defense and slid a puck underneath Stafford coming down the right wing. Topeka outshot Texas 12-8 in the 2nd period and the Tornado now have been outscored 9-1 in their last three games in the 2nd period.
Topeka would make it 4-0 early in the 3rd period, as Michael Hill again got loose in the low slot and walked in alone on Stafford uncontested. The Tornado finally put one on the scoreboard as Rock Einersen picked up a feed from David Rigatti and Ralfs Freibergs and slid one underneath Tirronen for his 4th goal of the season. Any comeback ideas were squashed late by another Roadrunner goal and a 5-1 final score. This is the first time all season the Tornado loss back-to-back games in regulation.
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