Game #3: Tucson Roadrunners (4) vs. Texas Stars (6)
Game #3: Tucson Roadrunners (4) at Texas Stars (6)
SOG: TUC (29) – TX (36)
PP: TUC (0/3) – TX (1/4)
TEXAS SCORING: Kole Lind (2), Chase Wheatcroft (2), Justin Hryckowian (2 and 3), Michael Karow (1), Emilio Pettersen (1)
TUCSON SCORING: Cameron Hebig (1), Maveric Lamoureux (1), Andrew Agozzino (2), Hunter Drew (1)
TUCSON ROADRUNNERS FALL IN SHOOTOUT 6-4 TO TEXAS STARS IN HOME OPENER
Tucson, AZ – The Tucson Roadrunners (1-2-0-0) gave up a two-goal second-period lead and a one-goal third-period lead in its 6-4 defeat to the Texas Stars (2-1-0-0) in its home opener on Saturday at Tucson Arena.
Roadrunners rookie defenseman Maveric Lamoureux collected his first career AHL goal and assist for a two-point night. Two other Roadrunners had a two-point night. Forwards Hunter Drew and Cameron Hebig both had a goal and an assist. Forward Andrew Agozzino scored his second goal of the season to extend his points streak to three games. Tucson goaltender Matthew Villalta made 30 saves.
YA GOTTA SEE IT
Andrew Agozzino’s second-period goal was a work of art. Roadrunners forward Egor Sokolov nearly beat Texas goalie Magnus Hellberg glove side, but the Swedish goaltender got a piece of the puck to block the shot. But Sokolov’s shot was too hard for Hellberg to corral. Agozzino had the presence of mind to crash the net to follow up the rebound. After the Stars netminder made the initial save on Sokolov’s shot, the veteran center whacked home the rebound as it hovered in the air to put Tucson ahead 3-1 just before the midway point of the period. Sokolov and rookie forward Julian Lutz each had an assist on the play. With the goal, the trio of Sokolov, Lutz, and Agozzino all lead the team in points with three apiece. The latter two have tallied three points in their last two games.
DON’T OVERLOOK IT
Expectations were high for Lamoureux coming into his debut season with the Roadrunners after being selected 29th overall in the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by the Arizona Coyotes. The 6-foot-6 rookie defenseman had no points and two shots on goal in his first two AHL games. But Saturday night was his breakout performance. Lamoureux assisted on Hebig’s first-period goal for his first professional point. Then, the Quebec native scored two and a half minutes for his first goal of the season and professional career. Lamoureux’s goal came with just four seconds left in the first period and put the Roadrunners ahead 2-1.
THEY SAID IT
“Having my first goal and assist at home is always great. It’s definitely better to do it here with all the fans. It was nice having all that noise and energy when I scored.”
Tucson defenseman Maveric Lamoureux on scoring his first professional goal
THE RUNDOWN
Roadrunners forward Ryan McGregor drew an Eagles penalty on the opening shift. On the ensuing power play, McCartney scored 2:30 into the game to give Tucson a 1-0 lead. The 20-year-old Lutz worked the puck off the boards from the right circle and dished a pass to McCartney in front of the net, who buried his shot through Eagles goalie Kevin Mandolese’s legs. Lutz and defenseman Robbie Russo both had an assist on the play. Tucson’s momentum didn’t last long. A minute after the goal, the Roadrunners took an interference penalty to give Colorado its first power play of the night. Halfway through its man advantage, Eagles forward Jason Polin ripped a one-timer from below the right circle to tie the game 1-1. After going a combined 2 for 14 on the man advantage in game one, both teams scored a power-play goal in the opening five minutes. Colorado controlled most of the action after tying the game. The Roadrunners had no shots in the final 11:40 of the period and were outshot by the Eagles 6-4 in the opening 20 minutes. Tucson also played strong defensively, holding the Eagles to just one shot in the final 5:45 and killed Colorado’s second power play.
Tucson scored a quick power-play goal for the second straight period to take a 2-1 lead. The Roadrunners went on the man advantage after Räty was tripped 37 seconds into the middle frame. Räty stayed on the ice and scored 40 seconds later on a wrist shot near the slot after receiving Kelemen’s pass from behind the net. The Roadrunners continued to put on the pressure, nearly scoring again on the next shift when center Cameron Hebig’s shot rang off the crossbar. Under a minute later, McGregor broke through the Colorado defense on a breakaway but was denied. Tucson had six shots in the opening three minutes, two more than it had in the entire first period. Midway through the period, Tucson had it’s second powerplay of the middle frame. McCartney almost scored his second goal of the game on the man advantage after receiving another sharp pass from Lutz near the net. The Roadrunners special teams units continued to shine, killing two Colorado power plays in the second half of the period and preserving its 2-1 lead. Tucson was 3 for 3 on the penalty kill in the middle frame and outshot the Eagles 9-8.
The Stars scored three unanswered goals in the third period to tie the game and take the lead. Drew broke the 3-3 tie at 10:39 to give Tucson a 4-3 advantage and forwards Travis Barron and Hebig had assists on the play. But, the lead would not last for long. Four minutes later Texas defenseman Michael Karow tied the game up at 13:15. The Roadrunners had several chances to tally the go-ahead goal down the stretch, including a pair of odd-man rushes and two power plays in the final seven minutes of the game. Tucson outshot the Stars 10-9 in the period, but were unable to find the back of the net again. With 1:14 remaining, Texas took a 5-4 lead from forward Emilio Petterson’s short-handed goal. The Stars cleared the puck from its own zone. The puck took a tricky bounce when Villalta played it outside his net. Texas pounced on the loose puck, regained possession, and Petterson buried it into an empty net. The Stars scored an empty-net goal 23 seconds later in the final minute to put the game on ice.
The Roadrunners host the Stars again on Sunday for game two of the weekend series. Puck drop is set for 4 p.m. MST. Tickets can be purchased using the link here.
