Game #31: Tucson Roadrunners vs. Chicago Wolves

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Game #31: Tucson Roadrunners (19-9-1-1) vs. Chicago Wolves (9-15-3-2)

Time: Friday, January 5, 6:00 p.m. MST, Allstate Arena, Chicago, Illinois

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Tucson Roadrunners Current Roster: CLICK HERE

Referees: #41 Mike Sullivan, #16 Adam Tobias

Linespersons: #10 Kirsten Welsh, #27 Michael Daltry

The Tucson Roadrunners continue their five-game road trip with game two in the Midwest from the Windy City of Chicago against the Wolves. Tucson’s five-game win streak came to an end at the hands of the San Jose Barracuda on Wednesday, but the Roadrunners are 2-0 this season against Chicago. These two teams last met in the beginning of November on the third and fourth where Tucson swept the Wolves in two games. Since the beginning of November when the Roadrunners won the two games at the TCC against Chicago, the team is 16-6-1-1.

Three things:

  1. Recalled this morning by the Coyotes, Justin Kirkland was the leading point getter against Chicago in the two games back in November. He compiled five total assists, accumulating four of them on Saturday, November 4, which is tied for the team’s season high in total points in a game. Both Dylan Guenther (2 goals, 2 assists) and Aku Raty (3 goals, 1 assist) also have four-point games this season. In addition, forward Ben McCartney had three assists in two games against the Wolves.
  2. With another power-play goal against San Jose on Wednesday, Tucson’s power-play is now successful in seven of their last 22 tries which is hitting at 31.2 percent, well over the top team in the AHL’s percentage which is 28-percent. That percentage belongs to the Chicago Wolves who have the best power-play in the league. Josh Doan leads the Roadrunners with five power-play goals while Dylan Guenther is second with three.
  3. Defenseman Victor Soderstrom is currently tied at fourth in the AHL in goals from a defenseman (7) and has 18 points (7 goals, 11 assists) in his last 23 games which also marks the number of games since the Roadrunners and Wolves last met. Overall, Tucson defensemen have combined for 15 goals and 41 assists for 56 points since the start of November.

What did they say?

“Defenseman are stepping up and getting goals; it shows the willingness of our group.”

Prior to being recalled by the Coyotes this morning, Tucson Forward Justin Kirkland on the team’s defensive scoring as of late after Cam Crotty and Victor Soderstrom lit the lamp on Wednesday in San Jose to tie the game at 3 and 4.
 

Number to Know:

4 – The number of wins Tucson has against Central Division opponents this season with a record of 4-0. The team is averaging 3.25 goals-per-game and two goals-against in those contests. The Roadrunners also swept the Texas Stars in the opening weekend of the season on the road.

Latest Transactions:

  • Forward Justin Kirkland was recalled by the Arizona Coyotes for the second time this year earlier this morning.

On The Headset:

Tonight’s game will be broadcasted live on the radio on FOX Sports 1450AM and the iHeartRadio app. Coverage will begin at 5:45 p.m. MST with Roadrunners Warm-up hosted by Jonathon Schaffer, before the “Voice of the Roadrunners” Adrian Denny has all the action from Allstate Arena. The game will also be televised on AHLtv.