Game #4: Tucson Roadrunners (3) vs. Texas Stars (4)
Game #4: Tucson Roadrunners (3) at Texas Stars (4)
SOG: TUC (22) – TX (45)
PP: TUC (0/1) – TX (0/3)
TEXAS SCORING: Chase Wheatcroft (3), Curtis McKenzie (1), Arttu Hyry (1), Alex Petrovic (2)
TUCSON SCORING: Hunter Drew (2), Milos Kelemen (1), Maveric Lamoureux (2)
TUCSON ROADRUNNERS GIVEAWAY LATE LEAD IN 4-3 DEFEAT TO THE TEXAS STARS
Tucson, AZ – The Tucson Roadrunners (1-3-0-0) conceded a late lead for the second consecutive game in its 4-3 defeat to the Texas Stars (3-1-0-0). Tucson forward Hunter Drew and rookie defenseman Maveric Lamoureux scored for the second-straight game, and forward Milos Kelemen found the back of the net for the first time this season. Their three goals were not enough to outlast the Stars after Texas defenseman Alexander Petrovic scored the game-winner with 17 seconds remaining. Despite allowing the late goal, Roadrunners goalie Jaxson Stauber made a team season-high 41 saves.
YA GOTTA SEE IT
Stauber earned the second star of the game for both his quantity and quality of saves made. His most impressive stop of the night came on a Stars two-on-one with the game tied 3-3 with four minutes remaining. Texas forward Matej Blumel rifled a point-blank one timer, but Stauber made a sprawling glove save to keep the puck out of the net. The rebound bounced back toward Blumel and Stauber made another diving save to keep the game tied. The 6-foot-3 netminder’s performance gave the Roadrunners a chance on Sunday and he has a .925 save percentage on the season through his first two games of the season.
DON’T OVERLOOK IT
Forwards Egor Sokolov and Andrew Agozzino extended their point streaks to four games as the duo have each collected a point in each game this season. Sokolov made a hard and accurate pass on Drew’s tap-in goal to tie the game in the first period. Agozzino also had an assist on Lamoureux’s second-period goal, which put the Roadrunners ahead 3-1. Agozzino carried the puck up ice as time expired on a Stars power play, and the 6-foot-6 rookie exited the penalty box just in time to join Agozzino on a two-on-one. The veteran forward delayed shooting or passing the puck until the last second, pulling Texas goalie Remi Poirier away from the net, before dishing a quick pass to Lamoureux for another tap-in goal. Agozzino and Sokolov joined the Roadrunners this offseason and the tandem currently lead the team in points with four apiece from two goals and two assists.
THEY SAID IT
“I think there are a lot of positives we can take out of this weekend. I thought our penalty kill was very good. When we’re playing Roadrunner Hockey, we’re getting pucks in, finishing checks, and creating chances off the rush, and that’s what we were doing this weekend.”
Roadrunners Captain Austin Poganski on the positive takeaways from Sunday’s game
THE RUNDOWN
The Roadrunners overcame a one-goal deficit and disallowed goal to make it 1-1 game after the first period. Neither team gave away any high-danger scoring chances through the opening few minutes of play. The Roadrunners had its first quality shot on goal two minutes into the game from Raty’s one timer from the top of the slot blocked and deflected out of play. The Stars scored 4:08 into the first period to take a 1-0 lead. Texas won an offensive-zone face off and Kyle Capobianco’s shot from the point deflected off Chase Wheatcroft into the back of the net. The Roadrunners responded just over five minutes later past the halfway mark. Matikka ripped a hard shot from the top of the slot and Poirier made the save. McGregor whacked at the rebound infront of the net and poked it passed the goal line. The Roadrunners forward line celebrated the would-be tying goal but the officials waved off the goal because they whistled the play dead and score remained 1-0 Texas. Agozzino’s tripping penalty two minutes later gave the Stars its first power play but Tucson nearly scored a short-handed goal to tie the game on Kelemen’s breakaway but Poirier made the save. The Roadrunners continued to put on the pressure and Drew found the back of the net to tie the game 1-1 with 4:32 left in the period. McGregor chipped a backhand pass behind the net to Sokolov, who fired a pass toward the front of the net and Drew tapped the puck past Poirier. The Roadrunners almost took the lead 90 seconds later when Hebig and Drew had a two-on-one but Hebig’s shot just wide of the left side of the crossbar. The Roadrunner’s late push was indicative of its first period performance. Texas outshot Tucson 9-4 in the first 10 minutes but the Roadrunners kept pace with the Stars in the back half, as the Stars ended the frame with a 15-10 shot advantage. Stauber’s 14 saves allowed the Roadrunners to get back on its feet and tie the game.
Tucson scored two second-period goals and led Texas 3-1 after 40 minutes of play. Kelemen scored 56 seconds into the period to give the Roadrunners a 2-1 lead. Raty dished a backhand pass from behind the net towards the crease and Kelemen’s backdoor snapshot found the back of the net. Tucson had its first power play of the night four and a half minutes into the middle frame but were unable to capitalize on the man advantage, getting just one shot on goal. After the Stars penalty expired, forward Travis Barron’s wraparound attempt was the Roadrunners’ best scoring chance since its opening-minute goal. Both sides shared an even number of chances and Tucson outshot Texas 8-7 in the first half of the second period. In the final 10 minutes, Lameroux’s first penalty of the season gave the Stars its second power play of the game at 11:04. Tucson killed the penalty and scored immediately after Texas’ power play expired. Lamoureux exited the penalty box just as Agozzino skated the puck up the ice after a Texas turnover. The rookie defenseman joined the play and skated alongside Agozzino on a two-on-one. The veteran forward dished the puck to Lamoureux near the net and the Quebec native tapped the puck in to give the Roadrunners a 3-1 lead. Tucson had an 11-10 shot advantage over the Stars.
The Stars scored two goals in the first 9:35 of the third period to erase Tucson’s two-goal lead. Texas cut the deficit in half after defenseman Christian Kyrou scored two minutes into the third period. The Stars nearly found the equalizer 5:45 into the final frame on a two-on-one but Stauber’s glove-save preserved the Roadrunners’ one-goal lead. Texas continued to chip away at the Roadrunners lead and outshot Tucson 10-1 through the first 15 minutes of the period. The Stars scored the equalizer when forward Arttu Hyry put home a rebound at 9:35 to make it a 3-3 game. Texas nearly took the lead to complete its comeback when an unfortunate bounce in the Stars zone led to a two-on-one the other way. Texas forward Matej Blümel fired a one-timed shot but Stauber slid across his crease to block the shot and save the Czech forward’s ensuing rebound. The Stars outshot the Roadrunners 20-2 in the final frame, and its last shot won the game when Petrovic found the back of the net in the closing seconds.
The Roadrunners wrap up its four-game homestand next weekend with a pair of games against the Bakersfield Condors at Tucson Arena. Game one will be on Friday at 7 p.m. MST. Tickets can be purchased using the link here.
