Game #45: Tucson Roadrunners (1) @ Ontario Reign (4)
Game #45: Tucson Roadrunners (1) at Ontario Reign (4)
SOG: TUC (22) – ONT (32)
PP: TUC (1/2) – ONT (0/4)
ONTARIO SCORING: Charles Hudon (16), Luke Rowe (1), Jeff Malott (14, 15)
TUCSON SCORING: Robbie Russo (3)
Roadrunners Fall 4-1 to Reign in Ontario
Ontario, CA – The Tucson Roadrunners (21-21-2-1) fell 4-1 to the Ontario Reign (27-14-2-1) in the second game of a back-to-back on Wednesday night at Toyota Arena. The more-rested Reign scored four unanswered goals to secure their fourth win in as many meetings with Tucson this season.
The Roadrunners struck first, taking an early lead when defenseman Robbie Russo capitalized on the power play just four minutes into the game. However, Ontario pulled even late in the first period from Charles Hudon’s wrister from the top of the left circle
The Reign took control in the second period and added two more goals. Luke Rowe gave Ontario the lead just over three minutes in, and Jeff Malott extended the advantage in the final minute of the frame to make it 3-1 heading into the third. Malott struck again early in the final period, scoring his second of the night on a breakaway nearly six minutes in to seal the 4-1 victory.
Tucson is now 2-2 through the first four games of its road trip and remains just two points behind the seventh-place Bakersfield Condors for the Pacific Division’s final playoff spot.
YA GOTTA SEE IT
Russo has been a steady playmaker for the Roadrunners, leading the team’s blue line in assists throughout the season. While he went the first 41 games without a goal, he has found his scoring touch of late. Russo struck again on the power play Wednesday, netting his third goal and fourth point in four games. He has also scored in back-to-back contests for the first time since the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs with the Utica Comets. His latest tally also marked his 11th power-play point of the season, tying Egor Sokolov for the team lead. Russo continues to pace all Tucson defensemen in points (20) and assists (17).
DON’T OVERLOOK IT
Tucson’s second-period power-play goal continued the team’s recent success with the man advantage, marking their seventh power-play tally in the last seven games (7-for-27). The Roadrunners have converted at a 26% clip during that stretch, scoring on the power play in six of those seven contests.
Forward Aku Räty and defenseman Artem Duda each picked up an assist on Russo’s goal. Räty’s helper marked his fifth power-play point of the season (2G, 3A), ranking sixth on the team, while Duda notched his sixth, good for fifth. It was also Duda’s 15th assist of the year, tying him with Andrew Agozzino for the fourth-most on the roster.
THEY SAID IT
“We just have to forget about it. We still have a lot of games left on this road trip and a lot of big points. So, put that one behind us, clean up what we need to and get back to it.”
Roadrunners forward Ryan McGregor on Wednesday’s loss to Ontario
THE RUNDOWN
FIRST PERIOD
The fireworks started early as Ontario’s Jacob Doty and Tucson’s Curtis Douglas dropped the gloves just over a minute into the game. Shortly after, Hunter Drew drew a holding penalty on Reign defenseman Jakub Dvořák, giving the Roadrunners their first power play of the night.
Tucson wasted no time capitalizing on the man advantage. Russo blasted a slap shot from the left point past Ontario goaltender Pheonix Copley, putting the Roadrunners up 1-0 at 3:54.
The Reign pushed for a quick response, but Matthew Villalta came up big in net, denying a net-front one-timer from Aatu Jämsen.
A rare minor penalty Duda gave Ontario a prime opportunity to even the score. However, Tucson’s penalty kill was up to the task, stifling the Reign’s power play and allowing just one shot on goal without a single quality scoring chance.
Ontario eventually broke through with 2:37 left in the period. Hudon fired a wrist shot from the top of the left circle, beating Villalta to tie the game at 1-1.
SECOND PERIOD
Ontario struck again just 3:28 into the period to take a 2-1 lead. Rowe’s blast from the point snuck past Villalta, marking the Reign’s second consecutive goal from the perimeter.
Less than three minutes later, Ontario had a chance to extend its lead on the power play. But for the second straight time, Tucson’s penalty kill held firm, with Villalta turning aside a pair of attempts from Martin Chromiak to keep the Roadrunners within one.
The strong defensive stand gave Tucson momentum. Nine minutes into the frame, Josh Doan nearly pulled the Roadrunners even on a two-on-one with Austin Poganski. Poganski delivered a perfect feed from the bottom of the right circle, but Copley made a key save on Doan’s one-timer from the left faceoff dot.
Tucson continued to push, sustaining pressure in the Ontario zone. Ryan McGregor created a quality chance, weaving through the Reign defense as he entered the zone, but his shot from the slot sailed just wide.
The Momentum briefly stalled when Max Szuber was called for holding with eight minutes left in the period. But once again, the Roadrunners’ penalty kill delivered, limiting Ontario to just two shots on goal to keep it a one-goal game.
Both teams exchanged chances late, with Villalta making a crucial stop on Chromiak’s breakaway. However, Ontario broke through with 45 seconds remaining. Hudon flipped a floating pass from center ice into the offensive zone, where Malott corralled it, deked from his backhand to forehand, and snapped a quick wrister past Villalta to send the Reign into the intermission up 3-1.
THIRD PERIOD
Tucson’s comeback attempt was put on hold early as a penalty just two minutes into the period sent Ontario to its fourth power play of the night. Villalta came up with a key stop on a close-range attempt from Hudon to keep the Roadrunners in the game.
After successfully killing the penalty, Tucson went on the attack. Curtis Douglas nearly cut the deficit to one, digging the puck out of the right corner and driving to the net with no defenders in front. He deked across the crease, but Copley extended his stick for a well-timed poke check to deny the chance.
Moments later, Ontario struck again. Jack Studnicka’s outlet pass found Malott behind the Tucson defense in the neutral zone, and he converted on the breakaway for his second goal of the night to extend the Reign’s lead to 4-1 at 5:52.
UP NEXT
The Roadrunners will travel to Henderson for a two-game set against the Silver Knights this weekend. The teams will face off at Lee’s Family Forum on Saturday and Sunday, with the opener set for 7 p.m. MST. Fans can catch all the action live on AHLTV on FloHockey.
