Win Streak At Seven As Topeka Torches Amarillo
December 7, 2015 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
The Topeka RoadRunners win streak has risen to a season high seven games after defeating Amarillo in a pair of midweek games at Landon Arena, capping a perfect 4-0-0 homestand.
Due to other events scheduled in the building the RoadRunners call home, the games were slated to be played Wednesday and Thursday. A strong turnout of fans from nearby Washburn University helped create a raucous atmosphere befitting of this once intense rivalry. On Wednesday the RoadRunners hit the ice running and never looked back on the way to a 4-1 win. Matt Jennings got sprung on a break down the left wing wall and drove the net, tucking the puck in on the short side while moving across the top of the crease. Just :08 seconds later, Jennings center ice faceoff win was controlled by team captain Cam Strong, feeding Dominic Lutz who buried it for a quick 2-0 Topeka lead that stood after one period. In the second period, tensions boiled over a bit as Amarillo's Jon Evans came off the bench to challenge Ryan Hutchinson. The scrap was quickly diffused by the linesmen, and the pair received matching double minor penalties. Once out the box, the two reconvened in a heavyweight tilt that Hutchinson prevailed in, by a clear but narrow margin. Topeka used a combination of strong offensive zone puck possession coupled with a stifling defense to outshoot the Bulls 18-3 that period and grew the lead to 3-0 when Marcus Russell finished off an end to end rush, burying a nice feed from JB Baker. Russell struck again just :10 seconds into the third period when JB Baker stripped the puck from a Bulls defenseman and sent a centering feed which Russell tipped in for the 4-0 lead. Topeka kept their foot on the gas, outshooting the Bulls 13-3 in the final frame, though the Bulls managed a power play goal for the 4-1 final margin. Topeka held the Bulls to just 9 shots on goal, while firing 39 at Amarillo goalies. Juho Niku posted his third consecutive win for the RoadRunners.
On Thursday, recently acquired Sami Tavernier collected his first goal, a blast from the high slot showing both poise and skill. The goal at 15:56 put Topeka on top, but a bad line change and a too many men on the ice penalty allowed Amarillo the chance to tie, which they did at 17:53 when George Mika put one home on the short side. The game was tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes. Topeka retook the lead when Quinn Preston went bar down on a rebound at 3:06, but just over a minute later a RoadRunner turnover set up Liam Ferguson who tied the game at 2-2. Topeka quickly jumped on top again on a Matt Jennings shorthanded goal, as he singlehandedly forced a turnover and then sprinted up the left wing and slid the backhander between the pads for a lead the 'Runners would not relinquish. Yu Hikosaka bolstered the lead to 4-2 as he rocketed a Quinn Preston pass up high with 3:02 left in the second. A bit more insurance arrived in the third when Max Harper lifted a Luka Maver feed over the glove of the netminder from close range and Topeka led 5-2, the final margin. Tyler Johnson stopped 16 of 18 shots for the win.
The seven game win streak is their longest since February 2013 when they won 7 straight. The franchise record is 11 games, set in 2009-10. In 2008-09, the team ran up a streak of 16 unbeaten (15-0-1).
Topeka (17-11-0) will hit the road to face the Odessa Jackalopes (10-9-3). The RoadRunners won the first 11 meetings in Ector County Coliseum dating back to 2011 but have now lost the last three times in that same facility, all by scores of 4-2. This weekend's games are set for Friday and Saturday. The Jacks have dropped four straight, all at home. Next weekend, the RoadRunners head to Springfield for the final meetings of the season with the Jr. Blues.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 7, 2015
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