First-place Tucson Roadrunners finish first half of season with loss to visiting Chicago Wolves

The Tucson Roadrunners dropped a 4-3 decision to the Chicago Wolves on Saturday night in a tense affair.

A season-high 6,036 fans packed Tucson Arena to watch the Roadrunners wrap up the first half of the 2017-18 schedule.

In a high-scoring affair, Roadrunners head coach Mike Van Ryn said that the officials played too large a role in the game’s end result.

With about 8:30 remaining, Tucson’s Laurent Dauphin received a misconduct penalty, forcing the forward to head to the locker room.

Dauphin’s ejection came on the same night that Joel Hanley was also ejected for a misconduct call following a slashing penalty.

“That’s a big game and for two (officials) to decide they’re going to dictate the outcome in it, it’s not right, it’s not hockey,” Van Ryn said.

Van Ryn is usually composed in the bench, but Saturday night he let his emotions get out.

Following Dauphin’s ejection, Van Ryn argued with the officials as the Roadrunners regrouped.

“I thought Chicago played a hard game, and I don’t want to take anything away from them but those two (officials) definitely made their presence felt,” Van Ryn said.

“I don’t even know what those calls were.”

The Roadrunners scored midway through the first period on a short-handed goal from Mike Sislo, assisted by Dauphin.

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Sislo’s goal gave him a nine-game point streak, a franchise record.

With 5ƒ minutes to go in the period, Tucson’s Kyle Capobianco scuffed a shot attempt, leading to a fast-break opportunity for Chicago.

The Wolves capitalized with a two-on-one goal to tie the score at 1.

Chicago added a goal with 10 seconds left in the period to take a 2-1 lead after the first 20 minutes.

The Roadrunners responded six minutes into the second period when Dauphin netted a goal following a long Tucson offensive possession.

Chicago struck late again in the second period with a goal to put the Wolves up 3-2.

The Wolves added to its lead with a goal early in the third period.

The Roadrunners cut the lead to 4-3 eight minutes into the period when defenseman John Ramage deflected in a goal.

Forward Nick Merkley did not play for the Roadrunners Saturday night. Merkley, who has been battling an upper body injury, played sporadically Friday.

Merkley is expected to participate in the AHL All-Star Classic on Sunday and Monday, along with teammates Dylan Strome and Capobianco.

Van Ryn will serve as a coach in the All-Star game, which is being held in Utica, N.Y.