Photos: Roadrunners earn first round playoff home ice with 2-1 win over Colorado, AHL hockey
-
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
- Updated
The Roadrunners scored the winner late on the Eagles in a match, April 13, 2024, Tucson, Ariz., that ensured their playoff opening series will played at the TCC.
Roadrunners' goaltender Matthew Villalta (31) makes a kick save on a close range shot by Colorado's forward Callahan Burke (68) in the third period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024. The Roadrunners sealed first round hosting privileges with a 2-1 win over the Eagles.
Colorado's forward Jean-Luc Foudy (93), left, tries to haul Roadrunners' defenseman Patrik Koch (64) off of Colorado's forward Cédric Paré (65) during a post game skirmish in their AHL match, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024. Both teams scuffled around for several minutes after the final horn following a dust-up in the Roadrunner crease in the last seconds.
Roadrunners' forward Ben McCartney (22) pokes home the game winner past Colorado's goaltender Ivan Prosvetov (1) late in the third period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Colorado's defenseman Keaton Middleton (67) picks up a boarding penalty on Roadrunners' forward Milos Kelemen (21) in the first period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Colorado's forward Spencer Smallman (38), left, and Roadrunners' forward Milos Kelemen (21) chase down the puck in the third period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Roadrunners' left wing John Leonard (43) picks his way past two Colorado defenders in the second period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Roadrunners’ forward Sam Lipkin (38) takes the low road and slips under Colorado's forward D.J. Busdeker (28) in the third period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Roadrunners' defenseman Victor Soderstrom (77) pokes the puck away from Colorado's forward Jean-Luc Foudy (93) and out from behind the Tucson net in the third period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Roadrunners' forward Ben McCartney (22) skates along the bench after slotting home the eventual game-winner against Colorado in the third period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Roadrunners' defenseman Patrik Koch (64) bodies Colorado's forward Jean-Luc Foudy (93) off the puck defending behind the net in the third period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Roadrunners' defenseman Patrik Koch (64) gets shoved back on top of goaltender Matthew Villalta (31) and into the net during Colorado’s last frantic stab to tie the game in the final seconds of the third period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Roadrunners' right wing Hunter Drew (36), left, and center Curtis Douglas (28) congratulate goaltender Matthew Villalta (31) after holding on for win against Colorado in the third period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Colorado's goaltender Ivan Prosvetov (1) uses his blocker to deflect a Roadrunners’ shot in the second period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Roadrunners' right wing Austin Poganski (41) can’t quite deflect the puck past Colorado's forward Spencer Smallman (38) and goaltender Ivan Prosvetov (1) in the second period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Colorado's goaltender Ivan Prosvetov (1) butterflies to save a Roadrunners shot in the second period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Roadrunners' forward Colin Theisen (63) and Colorado's center Chris Wagner (14) get tangled up near mid-ice in the second period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Roadrunners' forward Colin Theisen (63) fires right at Colorado's goaltender Ivan Prosvetov (1) in the first period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Roadrunners' right wing Austin Poganski (41) shoots wide past Colorado's goaltender Ivan Prosvetov (1) in the first period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Roadrunners' defenseman Patrik Koch (64), left, and Colorado's forward Peter Holland (71) eye a loose puck in the first period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Colorado's goaltender Ivan Prosvetov (1) makes a blind kick-save on Roadrunners' left wing Travis Barron (26) in the first period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Colorado's center Chris Wagner (14) attempts to skate past the pressure of Roadrunners' defenseman Cameron Crotty (5) in the third period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Colorado's forward Cédric Paré (65) takes a last ditch stab at slowing down Roadrunners' defenseman Max Szuber (55) in the third period of their AHL game, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
A Roadrunner fan dances and sings in the intermission before the third period of the game against Colorado, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
A Roadrunners' fan gets his cowbell, and hair, the full shake as the team comes out of the locker room for the second period againstt Colorado, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
A pair of Roadrunners fans get their hair ready in the moments before the start of the crucial game against Colorado with home ice on the line for the upcoming AHL playoffs, Tucson, Ariz., April 13, 2024.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
As featured on
With a two-game sweep this past weekend over the also-playoff-bound Colorado Eagles, the Tucson Roadrunners will host the entirety of their first-round Calder Cup playoff series series later this month at Tucson Arena. The games are scheduled for April 24, April 26 and April 28 (if necessary) — all at 7 p.m..
