Tucson Roadrunners seek to snap 3-game winless streak in home series

The Tucson Roadrunners face another Canadian team while looking to snap their three-game winless streak.

The Roadrunners (10-12-4-0) limped into the Christmas break by getting swept by the reigning Calder Cup champion Abbotsford Canucks on the road 4-2 and 2-1 last Friday and Saturday. However, the Roadrunners have a chance to snap their winless streak (they also lost 8-7 to the Bakersfield Condors on Dec. 13 on Teddy Bear Toss Night) with their first home game in a couple weeks.

The Roadrunners host the Calgary Wranglers (14-10-5-1) for a two-game series starting Saturday night. The Wranglers are the AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames.

On Oct. 18 and 19, the Roadrunners and Wranglers split a series in Tucson. The Roadrunners won the first game 5-4 in overtime with right wing Austin Poganski scoring the game-winner after they blew a 4-1 lead in the third period, with the last two Calgary goals being scored by center Rory Kerins.

Then the Wranglers took the second game 4-3 in overtime after the Roadrunners rallied with third-period goals by center Kevin Rooney and Poganski to force overtime and secure a standings point for Tucson.

Last year, the Roadrunners went 3-5 against Calgary.

The Wanglers won their last game before the Christmas break, 2-1 over San Diego on Dec. 21. Calgary has a 7-6-2-1 road record, including 4-6-2-0 in the United States.

Calgary comes to town tied for third place in the Pacific Division, while Tucson is in ninth. The Roadrunners are 6-7-2-0 at home this year.

Tucson travels to Calgary for a two-game series on Jan. 2 and 4, a stretch of four games in a week between the two.

Hot streaks

Although Tucson dropped the pair around Abbotsford, it has a few players coming in on a roll.

Forward captain Ben McCartney leads the team with 10 points (including 10 goals) over his last six games. In the AHL, only Bakersfield’s Isaac Howard has more points during that span (12).

Rookie defenseman Dmitri Simashev currently has a five-game points streak (two goals, three assists).

Finally, forward Cameron Hebig has eight points (including five goals) in his last six games. Hebig scored during the Roadrunners' 5-4 win over Bakersfield on Dec. 12 to take the franchise’s goal-scoring record (75) from Nashville Predator Michael Bunting.

Peanuts Night

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The Roadrunners celebrate the comic strip’s 75th anniversary by hosting their first-ever Peanuts Night on Saturday.

The Roadrunners are selling a Roadrunners Peanuts blanket that can be purchased separately as part of a ticket package. The blanket features Snoopy with a hockey stick, and around a Christmas tree with Charlie Brown.

Tucson will also be wearing Peanuts warm-up jerseys that will be auctioned off or could be won in a raffle. It will be selling replica Peanuts jerseys, too.

Sunday is Teacher Appreciation Day.

Rooney returns

As of press time, Rooney is a Roadrunner.

Utah sent the Canton, Mass., native back to Tucson after yet another call-up. Rooney, who started the season with the Roadrunners, has been recalled by the Mammoth four times.

Rooney has six goals and seven points in 13 games for Tucson. He has played in one game for Utah, Nov. 28 at Dallas, where he scored a goal, this season.

Rooney signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Mammoth on Oct. 6 after playing 70 games for NHL's Calgary.

He had a goal and an assist against AHL Calgary (the Calgary Flames own the Calgary Wranglers), a team that 'didn’t really want’ him. In 2022-23 he played 51 games for the Wranglers and four for them last season.

Goalie call up incoming?

Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka missed Tuesday night’s game with an upper-body injury.

The Mammoth signed Utah native Colten McIntyre to an amateur tryout agreement to serve as their emergency backup goalie after Vejmelka was scratched after warm-ups.

Tucson goalie Matthew Villalta (8-5-1) has a .901 save percentage and a 3.01 goals against average. Roadrunners net minder Jaxson Stauber (2-7-3) has an .872 save percentage and a 3.53 GAA.

Neither Tucson goalie has been called up this year.