Game #57: Tucson Roadrunners (6) vs Henderson Silver Knights (2)
Game #57: Tucson Roadrunners vs Henderson Silver Knights
SOG: TUC (32) – HSK (36)
PP: TUC (1/3) – HSK (1/3)
HENDERSON SCORING: Sheldon Rempal (23), Byron Froese (9)
TUCSON SCORING: Vlad Kolyachonok (6), Cam Crotty (3), Steven Kampfer (1), Jan Jenik (14,15), Nathan Smith (8)
It wasn’t a Jan point night for Jan. It wasn’t a two-point night for Jan. It was a three-point night, two goals and an assist night, for Tucson Roadrunners Forward Jan Jenik. Jenik, who is in his fourth season with Tucson, recorded his first three-point night of the season Wednesday. Jenik has 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists) in 44 games played for the Roadrunners this season.
DON’T OVERLOOK IT
BLUE LINERS, RED LIGHTS – How about those blueliners for the Tucson Roadrunners on Wednesday night? Following a Tuesday night shutout performance from Matthew Villalta and the defensive shot-blocking sponges, all six defensemen recorded a point on Wednesday night for the Roadrunners. ALL SIX. It was the first time in the 2023-2024 season that every defenseman recorded a point. Not only did the blue liners all record a point, but the first three goals of the night for Tucson were scored by Vlad Kolyachonok, Cam Crotty, and Steven Kampfer, all defensemen.
LOOK AT THIS
Defenseman Cam Crotty celebrates with teammates after scoring his third goal of the season in the first period of Wednesday night’s contest against Henderson.
THEY SAID IT
“It was a pretty successful series and anytime you can sweep that’s a huge win. Coming from where we were last week, this is a huge step in the right direction. Every point matters going down the stretch but you have to take it game by game,”
Defenseman Travis Barron following Tucson’s 6-2 win on Wednesday night.
THE RUNDOWN
Vlad Kolyachonok kicked off the Wednesday night game at the 7:03 mark of the first period scoring and giving Tucson an early lead. Josh Doan and Jan Jenik assisted Kolyachonok on the play. Henderson would answer and knot things up 1-1 before Cam Crotty would rip a shot from the blue line and avoid everyone, including the Henderson goalie, to score for the Roadrunners. Crotty’s third goal of the season was assisted by Max Szuber. As time expired in the first, Henderson would score a goal in true March fashion, a buzzer beater. The goal at the 19:59 mark would tie things up 2-2 heading into the second.
No scoring for either side in the second, but the shots on goal would favor the Roadrunners 11-5. Tucson Goalie Dylan Wells was perfect in the second and third frame making 18 saves in those two periods. Wells, following Matthew Villalta’s shutout performance on Tuesday night, would put on a great performance of his own ending the night with 34 saves.
Period three would start early in favor of the Roadrunners. Captain Steven Kampfer scored his first goal of the season, a power-play game-winning goal, at the 1:24 mark of the period. Kampfer was assisted by Josh Doan and Aku Raty. Doan picked up his second assist of the night. Jan Jenik would take notes on his Captain’s behavior and score a goal of his own later in the frame. Jenik was assisted by Montana Onyebuchi and Patrik Koch on the play. Following in succession Nathan Smith would light the lamp for the Roadrunners and extend Tucson’s lead to three. With a 5-2 lead Henderson would pull their goalie. That was all Colin Theisen would need to see as he intercepted the puck and fed Jan Jenik, a selfless play that would send the Roadrunners home with a win, and Jan Jenik home with two goals and an assist on the night.
The Roadrunners look to keep the winning streak going on Saturday and Sunday March 16th and 17th at the Tucson Arena.
