RoadRunners clip Condors’ wings 3-2

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Kimbi Daniels scored a pair of shorthanded goals and Craig Kowalski made 40 saves as the Phoenix RoadRunners held off the Bakersfield Condors 3-2 before 6,655 at Rabobank Arena in ECHL action Saturday.

Following a scoreless fist period, the RoadRunners’ (9-6-2) special teams’ went to work. Down two men with Bakersfield (6-8-2) on a four-on-three power play, Matt Burke fed the puck ahead to Daniels who had beaten the Condors defense down the ice and he slipped the puck behind Condors goalie Ryan Nie at 11:27 of the second for a 1-0 lead. Daniels then extended the RoadRunners’ advantage to two when he stripped Martin Frechette of the puck at the RoadRunners blue line with the Condors on another power play, cruised down the ice by himself, and slapped the puck past Nie at 16:18 for his second shorthanded goal of the period.

Charlie Kronschnabel pulled Bakersfield to within a single tally when he scored his second goal of the year at 56 seconds of the third period. But Gino Guyer gave the RoadRunners their two goal lead right back when he pulled Nie out of position from the left-wing circle and slapped the puck to the opposite corner of the net at 11:30 for a 3-1 advantage. Mark Derlago added a late goal at 17:45 with an extra attacker out for the Condors, but Bakersfield could get no closer.

Bakersfield out-shot Phoenix 42-24. Kowalski improved to 6-5-1 on the season with the win. The RoadRunners went 0-4 with the power play while Bakersfield was 0-6 with the man-advantage.

Notes: The two shorthanded goals marked the third time in their ECHL history that Phoenix has scored two shorthanded tallies in a single game and the first since Jan. 5, 2007 at Long Beach…Daniels became the first RoadRunners’ ECHL player to score two shorthanded goals in the same game…The 24 shots on goal for the RoadRunners was a season-low, while the 42 shots allowed marked the fifth straight game that Phoenix has given up 40 or more shots in a game…The RoadRunners acquired defenseman Jeremy Swanson from Victoria in exchange for future considerations and traded rookie forward Wes Clark to the Charlotte Checkers in exchange for future considerations.

The RoadRunners conclude a brief two-game California road trip when the visit the Fresno Falcons at 8:05 p.m. Sunday at Selland Arena. Catch all the action live on Independent 1310 KXAM beginning with “RoadRunners Countdown” at 7:45 p.m.

Phoenix returns to US Airways Center Saturday, Nov. 29 when they welcome the Las Vegas Wranglers at 7:05 p.m.

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