Traber, 'Runners Blank Blues Again
January 2, 2012 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
The Topeka RoadRunners completed their seventh weekend sweep of the season as they held the Springfield Jr. Blues for the second consecutive night, winning 3-0 on Saturday night in front of over 2,000 fans in Landon Arena.
The 'Runners took first period lead at 3:40 when Chris Bond buried a shot from the left point that skipped past Connor Girard in the Jr. Blues net for a 1-0 lead. Ben Bahe and Dan Dupell assisted on the goal. At 10:12, Topeka struck again. With Ryan White controlling the puck in the right wing corner, he centered a pass for Jake Lynes who couldn't get the shot away but Dan Dupell was right there to fire it into the top corner on the blocker side for a 2-0 RoadRunner lead. Topeka held Springfield to just 2 shots in the first period.
In the second period, Springfield created considerably more offensive chances but were still held off the scoresheet by goalie Peter Traber, who denied Springfield's leading scorer Kyle Cook on a shorthanded breakaway in the second period with a nice toe save. The 'Runners added a power play goal at 2:29 that Sean Gaffney backhanded home on a second attempt from the slot. It was 3-0 Topeka after two periods of play.
The third period was a scoreless one, as Topeka had their hands full, killing off three penalties in the frame. When it was over, Peter Traber had turned aside all 22 Springfield shots to earn his second consecutive shutout win. To put Traber's accomplishment into franchise historical perspective, it was the first time the feat had even been done on home ice. Only once before had a RoadRunner goalie swept a weekend series with matching shutouts, that being when Bryce Merriam blanked the Texas Tornado twice in a row in Frisco, TX on March 7 and 8, 2008. Chris Carlson posted back to back shutouts in 2005, four days apart and against different opponents. On two other occasions, the 'Runners posted back to back shutouts using different goalies. On Nov.1 and 14 of 2008,Bryce Merriam and Lyle Rocker posted shutout victories, and in January 2004, Mike Devoney and Ryan Hatch blanked the Central Texas Marshals on back to back nights in Belton, TX. The longest streak without allowing a goal is 164:16 which Merriam posted in his streak in 2008, which narrowly surpassed the prior mark of 163:41 set in 2005 by Carlson. An interesting side note: both Traber and Merriam authored their back to back shutouts in response to being pulled from their previous starts.
Topeka (21-11-2) wraps up their 8 game homestand with a pair of games against their longtime nemesis the St. Louis Bandits (24-6-2) who are having another outstanding year. St. Louis won both prior meetings this season. Topeka has won 7 of their last 8 games as they look to gain ground in the NAHL South.
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North American Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2012
- Traber, 'Runners Blank Blues Again - Topeka Pilots
- 'Runners Edge Jr. Blues in 1-0 Win - Topeka Pilots
- Janesville Jets in First - Janesville Jets
- Tornado Weekly - Texas Tornado
- Stars Take Round 3 with 4-3 Win - Traverse City North Stars
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