The Tucson Roadrunners defeated the Rockford IceHogs 4-3 in overtime at Tucson Arena on Friday night, improving to 4-0-0-1 on the season.
Conor Garland scored the winning goal with 27 seconds left in overtime.
After five minutes of routine play, Tucson’s Tyler Steenbergen drew the first penalty of the game, giving Rockford its first power play opportunity of the night. Jordan Gross took another slashing penalty near the end of the power play, which gave Rockford an advantage for nearly four minutes.
Tucson’s penalty killers were excellent, however, blocking three shots and only allowing Rockford one shot on goal. Michael Bunting gave Tucson the lead halfway through the first period, tipping in Kyle Capobianco’s point shot on a power play.
The Roadrunners continued applying pressure after taking the lead, spending most of the latter half of the first period in the offensive zone. Tucson almost went up 2-0 before the period ended, but after official review, it was determined that Dakota Mermis’ shot went in after time expired.
Roadrunners center Laurent Dauphin, left, can’t quite get the puck through against Rockford goaltender Kevin Lankinen.
Tucson continued playing fast and aggressive hockey in the second period, generating many quality scoring chances. Adam Helewka would score his team-leading fifth goal of the season, firing a one-timer on a power play past the IceHogs’ Kevin Lankinen early in the second. Helewka later added his second point of the night, earning the primary assist on Trevor Cheek’s second score of the year.
Rockford’s Tyler Sikura cut the Roadrunners’ lead to 3-1 just two seconds after Cheek’s goal, burying Anthony Louis’ pass in the slot. Tucson kept the IceHogs off of the score sheet for the rest of the period, and a pair of dangerous 2-on-1 odd man rushes nearly extended the Roadrunners’ lead before the period ended.
Tucson’s penalty kill, which had remained perfect through 40 minutes of play, finally allowed a goal which cut Tucson’s lead to 3-2 with just over 10 minutes left. Coming off of a pair of unanswered goals, the IceHogs gained the momentum, dominating the play in the final stages of the third period.
Rockford later scored the game-tying goal, registering its second power play goal of the period with just over four minutes of regulation remaining.
Rockford drew a pair of penalties minutes later, giving Tucson a long 5-on-3 advantage. The Roadrunners failed to capitalize and the game went to overtime.
Dakota Mermis missed an opportunity for the Roadrunners early in overtime on one of Tucson’s best looks of the night.
After Adin Hill stopped three prime scoring chances, Garland eventually scored the game-winning goal to move Tucson back into a first-place tie in the Pacific Division.
