The Tucson Roadrunners head to California after officially being eliminated them from playoff contention on their last road trip through Winnipeg.
The Roadrunners gave up nine goals to the Manitoba Moose while only scoring seven themselves, although they forced overtime on Friday getting them one point. Goaltender Marek Langhamer played on Friday after starter, Adin Hill, was pulled in the second period. Langhamer was the starter for the game on Sunday where he allowed four goals, including a late one in the third.
Roadrunner alternate captain, Chris Mueller, officially made his first season in Tucson the best in his career when he picked up four points in the game Friday. Mueller had two goals and two assists on the night brining him to 62 points on the season which bested his former career high of 60.
The Roadrunners, now in California, look to end a four-game losing streak against the Pacific Division best, San Jose Barracuda. Tucson earned a shootout victory against the Barracuda in their last meeting at the Tucson Convention Center where the Roadrunners exploded for four goals in the second period against San Jose.
Barracuda leading scorer Daniel O’Regan received his first taste of NHL action over the weekend with the San Jose Sharks, there is a chance that he will not be playing for the team, still being part of the NHL affiliate.
The Roadrunners finish up with San Jose Thursday, before traveling to Stockton on Saturday for their final game of the ingural season against the Heat. Stockton currently holds the last playoff spot in the pacific and have won eight of their last ten games.
The Roadrunners have played well against Stockton this year posting a 4-2-0 record in the six games played. Tucson will look to continue that success against the Heat and attempt to play spoiler and keep them from making the playoffs.
Chris Mueller had an exceptional weekend with three goals and three assists in two games against Manitoba, bringing his point total to 64 for the year. Mueller now sits third in the points race, one behind Chris Terry who is in second. Fischer still sits atop of the Roadrunners for goals scored with 19, Mueller has 18 and Laurent Dauphin has 17.
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