Phoenix Roadrunners vs. Stockton Thunder 3-4-09

Photo Credit: Larz Schwartz, LNL Photo

Ryan Huddy tallied a pair of goals including the go-ahead and eventual game-winner with 5:19 remaining in regulation to lift the Stockton Thunder to a 5-3 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 2,186 at US Airways Center in ECHL action Wednesday. 

Stockton jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead only to watch the RoadRunners come back and tie it with a pair of power play goals before the period’s end. The Thunder (28-27-5) struck twice in a span of 50 seconds to kick off the scoring receiving goals from Huddy and Sebastien Bisaillon at 5:58 and 6:48 respectively. The RoadRunners (26-27-5) responded with their first of two power play goals at 9:37 when Kimbi Daniels beat Stockton goalie Andrew Perugini with a shot from the left-wing circle to cut the deficit to 2-1. Jim Jorgensen later netted the equalizer at 15:32 on a two-man advantage as his shot from the left point got through traffic and past Perugini to tie the score at 2-2. 

Following a scoreless second period, the RoadRunners jumped ahead eight minutes into the third when Daniels banged home Ashton Rome’s rebound at 7:05 giving Phoenix a 3-2 lead. But it would be a short-lived lead as Mike Lalonde wrapped the puck around the RoadRunners’ net and through goalie Kyle Jones at 9:30 on the power play to tie the game at 3-3. Huddy’s goal would come just over five minutes later at 14:41 of the third as he beat Jones to the short side to give Stockton the lead back at 4-3. Cory Urquhart sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 18:53. 

Stockton out-shot Phoenix 31-24. Jones stopped 26 shots but suffered the loss to fall to 6-11-1 overall on the season. The RoadRunners went 2-8 on the power play while Stockton was 1-4 with the man-advantage. 

The RoadRunners return to US Airways Center at 5:05 p.m. Sunday when they conclude a four-game home-stand against the Utah Grizzlies. 

Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online at ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office. Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.