RoadRunners survive Wranglers 2-1

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Ashton Rome scored two goals and goalie Craig Kowalski made a season-high 44 saves as the Phoenix RoadRunners defeated the Las Vegas Wranglers 2-1 Monday night in front of 1,702 fans at US Airways Center.

The RoadRunners (5-2-1) controlled the puck for most of the first period, partly due to penalties by Las Vegas (2-4-1). Phoenix was finally able to get on the board at 18:21 of the period when Ashton Rome scored stick-side on Wrangler goalie Brent Kahn six seconds after the RoadRunners killed a penalty. The 1-0 lead would hold until the intermission.

“Ashton has played two really strong games for us,” Head Coach Brad Church said about this game and Saturday night’s game at Ontario. “He is a very dominant player at this level.”

The Wranglers came out in the second period and capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play when Jeff May scored from the right point 3:46 into the period, tying the game 1-1. P.J. Atherton and Chris Neiszner had the assists. The RoadRunners came back with a goal at 12:17, however, when Rome rifled a pass from Wes Clark from the left circle. Daniel Sisca had the other assist as Phoenix took a 2-1 lead.

The third period saw Las Vegas out-shoot the RoadRunners 16-7 but Kowalski held firm in net, even as the Wranglers pulled Krahn with over a minute to play in the game, and the final score would stand at 2-1 Phoenix.

“(Kowalski) really stole the game for us,” Church said. “In the second and third he made some unbelievable saves and really stole the two points for us.”

Krahn had 24 saves in the loss. This was the RoadRunners first win at home against the Wranglers since November 14, 2006 and their first regulation win on home ice over the Wranglers in 17 tries.

The RoadRunners return to US Airways Center at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday to open a two-game series with the Fresno Falcons.

Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online 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.

Las Vegas Wranglers 1 at Phoenix RoadRunners 2 - Status: Final
Nov 3, 2008 - US Airways Center

1st Period
Scoring - 1. Phoenix, A. Rome (3) 18:21
Penalties - K. Daniels Phx (slashing - minor 61.2) 0:33, Served by P. Ferraro Lv (bench minor - too many men 74.2) 1:34, B. Tyler Lv (cross-checking minor 59.2) 12:55, M. Carefoot Phx (roughing - minor 51.2) 16:15, C. Ferraro Lv (misconduct 40.4) 19:17, P. Ferraro Lv (holding - minor 54.2) 19:17

2nd Period
Scoring - 2. Las Vegas, J. May (1) (P. Atherton, C. Neiszner) 3:46 PP
3. Phoenix, A. Rome (4) (W. Clark, D. Sisca) 12:17
Penalties - B. Peterson Phx (hooking - minor 55.2) 1:50, B. Thurston Phx (hooking - minor 55.2) 2:15, D. Sisca Phx (tripping - minor 57.2) 6:51, M. Burke Phx (roughing - minor 51.2) 18:40, C. Neiszner Lv (unsportsmanlike conduct - minor 75.2) 19:26, B. Thurston Phx (unsportsmanlike conduct - minor 75.2) 19:26

3rd Period
Scoring - No Scoring
Penalties - J. Taylor Lv (holding - minor 54.2) 3:24, B. Straub Lv (holding the stick - minor 54.2) 4:37, J. May Lv (interference - minor 56.2) 6:56, A. Rome Phx (roughing - minor 51.2) 11:05

LV Shots: 10 19 16 TOTAL: 45
PHX Shots: 14 5 7 TOTAL: 26

Power Play Conversion
Las Vegas Wranglers 1-7. Phoenix RoadRunners 0-6.

Goaltenders
Las Vegas Wranglers
Krahn 0-1-0-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 57:48 SV: 24 GA: 2 [L]

Phoenix RoadRunners
Kowalski 3-1-1-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 59:57 SV: 44 GA: 1 [W]

Start : 7:08 PM
End : 9:25 PM
Attendance : 1702

Referee I: Jason Nissen (25)
Referee II:
LINESMAN I: Chris Zorza (98)
LINESMAN II: Rigel Pihlainen (37)

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