The Tucson Roadrunners will look to bounce back Wednesday night in Game 4 of the second round in the Calder Cup playoffs after suffering two straight losses to the Texas Stars.
Tucson, down 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, needs to win Wednesday to avoid a win-or-elimination Game 5 on Friday. One win over the next two games would bring the series back to Tucson for Game 6 and, if necessary, Game 7.
The Roadrunners came back from a two-goal deficit Monday night before losing late in the overtime period.
“There’s no sense of getting down,” Roadrunners head coach Mike Van Ryn said. “They’re smart guys. We’ve done all our work all year. We know when we’ve messed up and we know when we’re good. We just stay confident in the process and what’s got you here.”
For the second straight game, Tucson allowed Texas to get off to a quick start.
The Stars took a 1-0 lead eight minutes into the first period. Tucson’s Dakota Mermis tied the game in the opening minute of the second period, but Texas responded with two more scores to grab a two-goal advantage.
Van Ryn asked for more out of his power-play unit, which failed to convert on three opportunities in the Game 3 loss.
“I think when we executed and played the way that we’re supposed to, we played well,” Van Ryn said. “We just tested the water too much in the first and we weren’t playing as five. Like any team, when you get away from what you’re supposed to do, it’s tough.”
Whereas Tucson’s third-period comeback bid in Game 2 of the series fell short, the Roadrunners battled all the way back Monday to force overtime.
Tucson scored a pair of third-period goals, one from Trevor Murphy and the other by Mermis.
The Roadrunners controlled possession for much of the period, outshooting Texas by a 10-4 margin.
Texas, however, got to Tucson goalie Adin Hill one too many times in the overtime period to seal the win.
“Playoffs, you have to have that short-term memory,” forward Lawson Crouse said. “After that, you’ve got to put it behind you and put your foot forward for the next game.”
Tucson will almost certainly go with Hill in goal for Game 4, even though he has allowed seven goals in the past two games.
“Even though we’re down in the series right now, no one believes we’re out,” Crouse said. “That just speaks to the character in our room. Everyone wants to win and everyone has that will to win. That’s what you need to see. Sometimes it doesn’t go your way, but it’s about having that short-term memory and bouncing back.”
