Tucson started off slow Saturday night, but soon found its footing against the reeling Bakersfield Condors. The result, a 5-4 win at Tucson Arena, kept the streaking Roadrunners atop the AHL’s Pacific Division.
Bakersfield struck first with a goal five minutes into the opening period. The Condors added a second goal, this one on a power play, less than two minutes later.
Tucson attacked the net much of the first period but didn’t get on the board until 17 minutes in, when Dylan Strome assisted Lane Pederson for a score.
Tucson tied the score with 41 seconds to go in the first period when John Ramage connected from far out. The goal came on an assist from Joel Hanley and Strome, giving Strome his first multi-point game in over a month.
“Once we got that first one and the second one at the end of the first, it was a big momentum swing,” Hanley said.
The Roadrunners grabbed a 3-2 lead on a score by Tyler Gaudet in the second period. Three minutes later, Tucson’s Laurent Dauphin took a big hit and went to the locker room.
Mike Sislo added an insurance goal for the Roadrunners about eight minutes into the third period. Strome recorded his third assist of the night on the goal.
Hanley also dished out three assists.
Bakersfield netted a goal with three minutes to go to close the deficit to 4-3, but Tucson held on down the stretch.
Strome scored an empty netter with 45 seconds to go, but Bakersield scored again with 11.5 seconds remaining.
Strome, who record four points on the night, scored only his second goal over the last 12 games.
“I got my confidence back a couple games ago,” he said. “I haven’t scored much but the team’s been winning so it’s nice to get back on the sheet tonight.”
Goalie Adin Hill knocked away a last second Bakersfield attempt to give Tucson the win.
“It’s always a little bit nerve-racking as a coach when you come back,” coach Mike Van Ryn said. “In the game of hockey you don’t win too many after being on the road that long, so I was proud of our guys.”
Slap shots
- The Roadrunners were without Nick Merkley for the seventh straight game. Merkley is nursing an upper-body injury.
- Tucson drew 6,311 Saturday night, the second-best crowd of the season.
Tucson will be back in action Monday afternoon for a 4 p.m. game against the Condors.
