Tucson Roadrunners' Moore comes in clutch with assist that technically didn't count

Tucson Roadrunners defenseman Lleyton Moore notched his first multi-point game on Saturday, but maybe he should have been awarded another assist.

On Saturday, in the Roadrunners’ 3-0 win at San Diego, Moore scored his first goal of the season and got an assist to record his first multi-point game of his AHL career.

“That was good, yeah, throughout the games I’ve been playing, I was just trying to play the right way,” Moore said. “Good details and stuff like that and just play the right way and it came out in my favor and I was happy like I got a point, but getting two is just an extra reward, as well.”

In the last couple of minutes in San Diego, Tucson goalie Matthew Villalta lost his stick when the Gulls pulled their goalie to get an extra attacker. Moore passed his stick to Villalta and dove to help keep the shutout.

“It was definitely a little bit of a mayhem out there, 6 on 5, they have one extra dude, so it’s just a free for all kind of,” Villalta said. “I think we were in a scrum or whatever, the puck was flying around in the paint and I end up losing my stick and sure enough, I looked next to me and he’s giving me his stick. It’s definitely awesome, I think a smart heads up play by him and makes it easier for me.”

Flo Hockey, which broadcasts the AHL, posted the stick assist on social media.

“I noticed that he didn’t have a stick, so I was like, ‘oh, he needs a stick to do something,’” Moore said. “So I gave him my stick and I asked Pogo (Roadrunners right wing Austin Poganski) for his stick and he gave it to me, then luckily both me and him made the save at the end and I was very happy for him.”

Moore and the rest of the Roadrunners (10-8) travel to Canada to face the Calgary Wranglers (15-5-1-0) for a two-game set starting Friday.

Last year, Moore played in 14 games, tallying four points. This year, he has already played in nine games and has three points.

“Lleyton’s been great,” said Tucson head coach Steve Potvin. “I think he’s concentrating on all the right things.

“Of course these guys want to be rewarded for their time and how much they work, it was nice to see him capitalize, but for us, watching him compete and winning races and actually being fast to the puck and being able to win battles against guys that are a little bit bigger and I won’t say stronger, but they’re definitely a little bit bigger; it’s great to see.”

Moore joined the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL last year after playing juniors. He signed a professional tryout contract with Tucson, making his AHL debut Dec. 20 before getting a standard AHL contract.

At 5-8, 179 pounds, Moore is Tucson’s only defenseman under 6 feet, but he says he can use his size to his advantage.

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“I think it’s just how you play, honestly,” Moore said.

“I’m a smaller guy but it doesn’t really mean anything on the ice. I use my height as an advantage, I get in the corners and I get a little dirtier, I would say, and I work them hard and I don’t know, I work much harder than everyone else, I would say, cause I’m a smaller guy. So I’ll have to do a little bit more but at the same time, I just play smart and use my height at as advantage.”

Villalta said Moore is a glue guy, an important part of the locker room.

“He’s obviously developed quite a bit over the time, but I think he’s got a lot of confidence and you can see that he’s an American Hockey League player,” Potvin said. “Sometimes it’s hard to be patient when there are a lot of guys that are drafted and maybe come in with a little bit, you know, more of a pedigree, but he can play at this level, there’s no doubt.”

Moore was looking for an apartment in October and so Villalta, who was going to live alone this year, offered the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native a place in his home.

“I figured I have an empty spot in my house, and it’s nice being on your own, but also you kind of get bored some days, trying to figure out what to do and whatnot, so I just figure, you know what, help him out. He’s great company at the house, too,” Villalta said. “We have a lot of fun, so it was a win/win.

“It’s been awesome to have him in the house, cooking some good dinners, playing a lot of golf in our spare time when we got a chance to, and playing Xbox or we’re doing some arts and crafts, so we’re getting into drawing,” he added.

“We’re gonna be painting here soon, so, it’s just been great to have him as some company and it’s been awesome.”

Moore said he’s happy to live with the goalie, who he said is “laid back, he’s chill, he’s outgoing.

“He’s been nothing but supportive and nice to me, so I’m very happy.”

Slapshots

• In addition to Villalta’s 22-save shutout, goalie Jaxson Stauber got a 29-save shutout in his first action for Utah Hockey Club since getting called up on Saturday. Utah beat the Vegas Golden Knights 6-0.
• On Saturday, Utah HC recalled defenseman Maksymilian Szuber. It was his second NHL call-up of his career, and he was the fourth Roadrunner this season to go to the big club. He was sent back to Tucson on Wednesday.
• Despite getting swept by the Roadrunners in late November, Calgary remains in first in the division and conference.