The Tucson Roadrunners have a chance to clinch home ice in the first round of the American Hockey League playoffs this weekend. But to do so, they’ll have to get past one of their chief divisional rivals for that same home ice advantage that just happens to be led by a familiar face.
The second place Tucson Roadrunners (39-23-3-2) host the fourth place Colorado Eagles (37-22-5-2) on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. Saturday’s game is Tucson’s lone televised regular-season game, slated to air on My 18.
Tucson has 83 points with five games left while and Colorado 81 points with six to go.
“These are great games and these are games that we put ourselves in and so we’ve got to be proud of that as an organization and as a team as whole,” Tucson head coach Steve Potvin said. “We had to overcome a lot of barriers. We had to work on our game and stay committed to it through the hard parts of the season and I thought our guys did really well and we put ourselves in position to continue to grow and to rise and I’m looking forward to the weekend — so are the guys.”
Although at press time only five points separate Tucson and the Calgary Wranglers, the team in the seventh and currently in the division’s last playoff spot, there are scenarios that allow the Roadrunners to clinch home-ice this weekend.
Four of the Roadrunners’ last five regular season games are at the friendly confines of the Tucson Arena.
The Eagles have soared toward the top of the AHL’s Pacific Division standings after they added goalie Ivan Prosvetov (10-5-2-2 AHL) on Feb. 4. Prosvetov played for Tucson for four season until the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes waived him in October while trying to send him to the Roadrunners; but the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche snatched him up off the waiver wire.
Tucson and the Eagles split a series in Colorado earlier this season but that was when Prosvetov was with the Avalanche. Last year the Roadrunners went 2-2-0-0 against the Eagles.
“We haven’t played against him yet so we’ll have to wait and see but I hope we can (laughs) put a few in on him,” Tucson center Nathan Smith said. “Just kinda maybe chirp him a little bit but it’ll be a fun game. Ivan’s a good teammate. He was fun to have around here so it’ll be fun to play against him as well.”
Roadrunners goaltender Matthew Villalta (31) smothers a loose puck in the crease against Calgary in the third period of their AHL match at the TCC, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2024.
Prosvetov won AHL Goaltender of the Month for February after he opened up his 2023-24 AHL campaign with eight straight wins. The Moscow native was a fourth round pick of the Coyotes and has played in 24 games for Arizona and the Avalanche.
Tucson center Cameron Hebig agreed that it’s nice to play against someone they practiced against so much.
“I’m sure he’s got some scouting reports on us, too and I think we might have some on him, too,” Hebig said. “So it’ll be a good battle and I think all that matters is the four points for us and that’s what we’re looking to grab here.”
The Prosvetov transaction could be considered a win-win as Tucson goalie Matthew Villalta (28-17-3-3 AHL) emerged to get his first AHL All-Star selection while also earning the first NHL call up of his own career.
“I think there’s a certain point where players need a fresh start or just a matter of circumstances you move on,” Potvin said, “and for us we already had Matty signed but it really opened up the door for him to take that No. 1 spot and be our guy, so to speak.
“So of course it’s a win-win but I really like what Matty’s been able to accomplish here,” Potvin added. “I think he’s solidified himself in the room and he’s solidified himself on the ice and that’s important.”
Tucson’s Cameron Hebig (39) tries to fight his way past Stockton’s Juuso Valimaki (8) during a 2022 game at Tucson Arena.
Slap shots
On Thursday the AHL announced the individual team winners of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year awards with Hebig getting Tucson’s honor.
Each club picks their winner based on their contributions to the community and charitable organizations. Then the league picks an overall winner.
“I think it’s a great, great group here, great organization and I’m happy to be a part of this group and I think (I’m) surrounded by a lot of good people, “Hebig said. “You want to keep growing, keep getting better and I’m excited to go into playoffs here.”
It’s Hebig’s fourth season in Tucson.
“He’s been an impact not only this year, I think he’s been an impact for all the years that he’s been here,” Potvin said. “He arrives the same way every day and you can see what type of man he is and it just carries on through to the community and it’s important to have people like that on our team and it’s real important that they present that type of attitude and behavior and I think he’s an easy guy to follow.”
Former Roadrunners Lane Pederson (Bakersfield Condors), Brendan Perlini (Charlotte Checkers) and Dysin Mayo (Henderson Silver Knights) also won the award for their respective teams.
On Monday the Coyotes called up defenseman Max Szuber. He’s the 18th Roadrunner to get called up this season, a team record, and the fifth to make his NHL debut in 2023-24.
Then on Tuesday Arizona recalled forward Jan Jenik and on Wednesday they called up defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok.
Tucson meanwhile called up three ECHL players.
On Saturday the Roadrunners will wear their Kachina uniforms for the last time this year and they will be auctioned afterwards. The proceeds will go to Roadrunners Give Back.
