Winning on the road is something that has come naturally to the Tucson Roadrunners this season.
Following a rare road loss in Game 3 of their second-round Calder Cup Playoff series against the Texas Stars on Monday, they will have to count on their road success to keep their season alive.
The Roadrunners fell 5-4 in overtime at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas, bucking a trend where they have won nearly 75 percent of their games away from home and forcing them to win at least one of two contests here after falling behind 2-1 in the series in order to send it back to Tucson.
Sheldon Dries’ goal with 6:24 left in overtime following a Roadrunners turnover deep in their zone gave Texas the win.
“It was a breakdown,” Tucson coach Mike Van Ryn said. “Those are what usually win you games. We tried to force a play, it was a turnover and a good shot by them.”
Tucson rallied from a 4-2 deficit entering the third as Trevor Murphy scored four minutes into the period, then Dakota Mermis tied the game with a slap-shot with less than six minutes to play.
The Roadrunners dominated the final frame, playing with an urgency not seen during the first two periods, and outshot Texas 10-4 during the frame.
“I thought we were good after the first period,” Van Ryn said. “We had looks where we could have won the game. The biggest thing is just keep working. When we executed as we should have, we played well. Like any team, when you get away from your structure, it’s tough.”
Texas’ Roope Hintz scored off a rebound from Adin Hill following a breakaway eight minutes into the first to open the scoring.
Mermis tied the game 34 seconds into the second with his first goal, but it wouldn’t last as Texas scored on a deflection by Jason Dickinson less than 40 seconds later.
After Mermis took a pass to the chin midway through the second, the puck deflected to Texas’ Brian Flynn and gave him a one-on-one with Hill, which he finished to give the Stars a 3-1 lead.
“Certainly that was one of the most bizarre goals that’s happened,” Mermis said.
“But that’s playoff hockey and that’s the bounces that happen.”
Carter Camper scored later in the period to bring the Roadrunners back within one, but Gavin Bayreuther scored off his own rebound to give Texas its 4-2 lead heading into the third.
Game 4 is Wednesday.
“I think we look forward to games on the road and the challenges and with the resiliency we have, it bodes well for us,” Mermis said.
