Game #70: Tucson Roadrunners (3) vs Coachella Valley Firebirds (2)
Roadrunners Recap: 4/17/2024
Game #70: Tucson Roadrunners vs Coachella Valley Firebirds
SOG: TUC (26) – CVF (38)
PP: TUC (0/2) – CVF (0/3)
COACHELLA VALLEY SCORING: Ryan Winterton (22), Connor Carrick (9)
TUCSON SCORING: Hunter Drew (9, 10), Reece Vitelli (1)
TUCSON ROADRUNNERS WIN THE SEASON SERIES AGAINST THE COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS FOR THEIR FINAL ROAD GAME OF THE REGULAR SEASON
TUCSON, AZ – The Tucson Roadrunners took care of business with a grudge matched 3-2 victory over the Coachella Valley Firebirds: winning the season series 4-3-0-1 against the top team in the Western Conference; improving to 42-23-3-2.
It was a battle for Tucson; who is fighting for second place in the Pacific Division with the Ontario Reign. Hunter Drew scored two of Tucson’s three goals, while goaltender Dylan Wells made 36 saves on 38 shots; marking the fifth time this season Wells has stopped 35 shots or more in a game.
The Roadrunners have now reached win number 42; the most in a single season for the team since the 2017-18 season.
GOTTA SEE IT
If you’re a Tucson Roadrunners fan, then both of Hunter Drew’s goals in Wednesday night’s 3-2 victory over Coachella Valley were for you, and both were for Drew as well. Drew’s season goal total increased to 10 in the two-goal performance and his season points total is now at 16. Drew, the 2018 draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks, is in his first season with the Roadrunners.
DON’T OVERLOOK IT
With Hunter Drew’s 9th and 10th goals coming in the 3-2 victory; the Roadrunners now have 10 players on the team with 10 goals or better. Hunter Drew and Cameron Hebig became the 9th and 10th players to hit 10 goals for Tucson this season. Hebig leads the team in scoring in the month of April with seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) while Drew is second with six points (4 goals, 2 assists).
LOOK AT THIS
(Photo Credits: Coachella Valley Firebirds)
Hunter Drew scores the first goal of the game in the first period to give the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead; receiving a fist bump from teammate Jan Jenik on the bench in the victory lap. It would lead to a two-goal night for Drew overall; who was a big part in the 3-2 victory for Tucson.
THEY SAID IT
“It’s a great feeling; we’re in a tight race here trying to lock up second place in the Division; so we knew what we had to do tonight. They’re a good team at home; I thought we brought a good and honest effort.”
Goaltender Dylan Wells on the season series win against Coachella Valley to close out the road schedule.
THE RUNDOWN
Goaltender Dylan Wells was tested early with some point-blank Firebird chances; stopping the first three shots from Coachella Valley until the Roadrunners registered their first shot at the 14:40 mark. Hunter Drew gave Tucson the 1-0 lead at 6:28: with a one-timer between the dots for his ninth goal of the season. Defensemen Max Szuber had the setup from left circle after a rush up the ice for the Roadrunners. Forward Custis Douglas was later added as an assist with the puck hitting his skate before making it to Drew. The Firebirds responded quickly at 7:49 from Ryan Winterton for his 22nd of the season. Wells overall stopped 16 of 17 in the first period to keep it 1-1. The 16 saves were two off from Matthew Villalta’s season high save count in a period at 18; which came in the third period on October 14 versus the Texas Stars and the third period on November 12 versus the Firebirds.
For the second period, Tucson scored the only goal from Hunter Drew for his second goal of the game at 15:51; crashing into the net after Victor Soderstrom shot low on Firebirds goalie Chris Driedger to cause a juicy rebound for Drew. It was Drew’s 10th goal of the season and his seventh point (5 goals, 2 assists) in his last seven games. Wells made 11-straight saves in the period.
In the final frame at 10:33, Reece Vitelli scored Tucson’s third goal of the game for his first of the season; scoring off a rebound from Montana Onyebuchi’s blast from the blue line. Cameron Hebig tipped the Onyebuchi shot to create the scoring chance for Vitelli. It was Hebig’s seventh point (2 goals, 5 assists) in April; which leads the team with two games remaining in the month. Coachella Valley scored late to make it a 3-2 game from Connor Carrick for his ninth of the season. However, the Firebirds would run out of time; securing the season series victory for Tucson against Coachella Valley ahead of their final two games of the season back at the TCC.
