The Tucson Roadrunners had plenty of chances to beat the San Antonio Rampage Saturday night: 44 to be exact.
Yet it was San Antonio that found a way to push a shot in the net, as the Rampage defeated Tucson 1-0 in overtime at Tucson Arena. Andrew Agozzino scored a power-play goal just 30 seconds into the extra period to give the Rampage the win.
“I thought we played pretty well. We just didn’t elevate enough, I thought,” Roadrunners coach Mike Van Ryn said. “We had them down and out a few times, but couldn’t manage to raise the puck up. More than enough looks to win the game.”
Tucson went 0 for 7 on power plays for the second straight night. The Roadrunners are 0 for 23 on power plays this season against San Antonio.
Van Ryn said that injuries to Kyle Capobianco and Nick Merkley left Tucson shorthanded. The club also lost Laurent Dauphin, who was called up to the NHL’s Coyotes earlier in the day.
“It was a good effort,” Van Ryn “but we just have to find ways to bury (shots).”
Tucson was stymied by San Antonio goaltender Ville Husso. The 23-year-old Finn saved 53 of 55 shots against Tucson last month. Saturday, Husso became the first goalie to shut Tucson out all season.
“His mobility is unreal and he looks like a great goalie,” Tucson goalie Adin Hill said. “I’ve only seen him play three times now, but I think he’s really good.”
Hill and the Roadrunners held San Antonio to just 11 shots on Saturday, the fewest by any American Hockey League team this season.
“We just played a great game and we were getting pucks deep,” Hill said. “You’re in the game, you’re watching what your team is doing, you’re not dozing off.”
All four games of the Tucson-San Antonio series have gone into overtime. Tucson won the previous three, all by scores of 2-1.
The Roadrunners had a penalty shot late in the second period, but Jens Looke could not convert. Tucson is 0 for 3 this season on penalty shots.
The Roadrunners will now embark on a three-game Midwest road trip. They’ll play one game in Grand Rapids, Mich., and two in Cleveland.
“We’ve just got to relax,” Van Ryn said.
“They’re getting looks but it just isn’t going in right now and it will. We’ll just keep forging ahead.”
