Game #34: Tucson Roadrunners (2) vs Abbotsford Canucks (5)
Game #33: Tucson Roadrunners vs Abbotsford Canucks
SOG: TUC (29) –ABB (42)
PP: TUC (1/3) – ABB (0/5)
ABBOTSFORD SCORING: John Stevens (8), John Stevens (9), Arshdeep Bains (9), Aidan McDonough (5), John Stevens (10)
TUCSON SCORING: Aku Raty (9), Hunter Drew (5)
Aku Raty picked up his ninth goal of the season in the first period of Tucson’s 5-2 loss on Saturday night from the Abbotsford Centre. Raty is firing on all cylinders, as mechanics would say, scoring 16 points in his last 19 games played. Raty’s power-play goal also marked the 10th power-play goal for the Roadrunners in their last 35 attempts over the last 10 games. Raty received the rebound from the stick of Max Szuber, who wanted everyone to know DEFENSEMEN CAN SKATE TOO as he shows off the fancy footwork and ripped a shot.
DON’T OVERLOOK IT
HOTTER THAN THE GRILL OF A SONORAN DOG FOOD TRUCK – For the Tucson locals and those familiar with the culture you are all well aware of Sonoran Dogs and how hot grills are. The Tucson Roadrunners, coming off a weekend split in Abbotsford, have been hotter than those grills cooking up the bacon wrapped delights. From December 8th-January 12th the Roadrunners went 9-5 overall and 6-3 on the road. On December 8th the Roadrunners were 12-6-1-1 and on January 12th the Roadrunners are 21-11-1-1. Tucson is now returning home for the next six straight games and is 8-5-0-1 at the Tucson Arena this season. They do not have another road game until January 31st.
LOOK AT THIS
Tucson Roadrunners Forward Josh Doan sells out for a puck in front of the Abbotsford net on Saturday night from the Abbotsford Centre. Doan’s valiant effort isn’t going unnoticed in the box score as he has recorded a point in each of his last nine road games and an assist in four consecutive games for the Roadrunners. Simply put; Josh Doan is nails.
THEY SAID IT
If it wasn’t for (Dylan) Wellsy, we wouldn’t have been in that game. We could’ve responded a little bit better, but we’re ready to move forward on Monday. It’s easy to play with a guy like (Josh Doan) that and build chemistry heading into Monday against Iowa.
Forward Ben McCartney following Tucson 5-2 loss on Saturday night
THE RUNDOWN
Saturday night’s heavyweight bout between the Tucson Roadrunners and Abbotsford Canucks was kicked off in odd fashion as a delay of game minor was called on Tucson on the opening draw. The early minor would set the tone for the rest of the first period as there were 10 penalties between the two teams and just one goal to show for it in the opening frame. That goal, however, would be one for the good guys on the power-play as Aku Raty would light the lamp and score his ninth goal of the season. Raty now has 16 points in his last 19 games and Tucson is 10-35 on the power-play in their last 10 games. Raty was assisted by Max Szuber and Austin Poganski on the power-play goal. A 1-0 lead for Tucson would wrap up the first 20 minutes that featured more fights than goals as the gloves would hit the ice on two separate occasions.
Period two would return to normalcy and unfortunately a monster 20 minutes for the Canucks. At the 2:52 mark the Canucks would ties things up 1-1. Just over two minutes later they would score again giving them their first lead of the night and series. A third Abbotsford goal in the period really swung the momentum in Abbotsford’s favor but Tucson wouldn’t go down without a fight. Hunter Drew would answer the three Canucks goals with a goal for Tucson at the 18:32 mark of period two. Drew, who has six points in his last five games, was assisted by Ben McCartney and Josh Doan. Doan is riding a league-high nine-game road point streak and has recorded an assist in his last four games.
Abbotsford would carry the 3-2 lead into the final frame and add a couple of insurance goals to the final score of 5-2. Tucson netminder Dylan Wells stopped 37 of 41 shots he faced tonight. Abbotsford outshot Tucson 42-29 on the night. Tucson can walk away from the weekend pleased with the performance of the penalty-kill unit. Tonight, Abbotsford went 0-5 on the power-play after Friday’s 0-3 performance from the Canucks. Two power-play goals for Tucson and forcing the opponent to be 0-8 on their kill is a stat that favors the good guys in red.
Tucson returns home on Monday, January 15th against the Iowa Wild at the Tucson Arena. They will play the Wild at the Tucson Arena again on Wednesday, January 17th before hosting the Henderson Silver Knights on Friday and Saturday.
