Three-goal advantages are known as the most dangerous lead in hockey.
The Tucson Roadrunners tested out that old adage in a 5-3 win over the San Diego Gulls Monday night at Tucson Arena.
Tucson held off a third-period push back by San Diego in the second of the three straight games against its rival. The Roadrunners defeated the Gulls Saturday night; the teams will play again Wednesday morning.
“We were kind of playing with a short bench so a lot of guys are playing a lot harder minutes,” Roadrunners head coach Mike Van Ryn said.
Tucson was without leading scorer Nick Merkley, who got banged up in a loss to Ontario Friday night.
The Roadrunners nonetheless had no trouble finding the back of the net.
San Diego netted the first goal of the game and looked poised to take a 1-0 lead into the second period.With 30 seconds to go in the period, Dylan Strome sneaked in a goal, his 17th of the season, to tie the game.
Seventeen seconds later, Mike Sislo scored to give Tucson a 2-1 lead.
Lawson Crouse scored the next two goals for Tucson, one in the second period and one in the third.
“I was lucky enough to have a couple pucks sitting there for me, and all I had to do was put it in,” Crouse said. I just try to get (to the front of the net) as much as I can.”
The Roadrunners then gave up a pair of goals to San Diego, who trimmed a three-goal deficit down to one.
Tucson put away the game when Andrew Campbell scored an empty-netter with 4.1 seconds remaining.
The Roadrunners were sparked offensively by defenseman Joel Hanley, who assisted on each of the first three goals.
“To get two at the end of the first period was big,” Hanley said. “A couple of my assists were lucky. I think even my third one was (Dakota) Mermis’s but it was a big team effort and a big two points for us.”
With the win, the Roadrunners have a 9-6 points (4-2-0-1) advantage in the burgeoning Border Cup rivalry with San Diego.
The teams play each other four more times this season, starting Wednesday.
“There’s no doubt that divisional games mean a lot to us,” Van Ryn said. “They’re hard-fought games every night.”
