The Tucson Roadrunners continue to battle for a playoff spot as they picked up one win over a three-game weekend road trip. The Roadrunners spent the weekend in California playing the Gulls on Friday and the Reign on Saturday and Sunday. The Roadrunners have dropped down to sixth place in the Pacific division with 54 points and the Bakersfield Condors hold the last playoff spot with 58 points. San Jose currently sits in first place in the division with 78 points.
The Gulls hosted the Tucson Roadrunners on Friday at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego. The Gulls picked up a hard fought 2-1 victory over the Roadrunners. The Roadrunners outshot the Gulls 40-35 but could not stop the power play of the Gulls who went 2-5 when the Roadrunners were down a skater. Chris Mueller scored the lone goal for the Roadrunners, his 12th of the season.
Christian Fischer and Joe Whitney each registered an assist on the goal. Whitney, since being traded to the Roadrunners, has three points in three games. The Roadrunners were unable to score a power play goal going 0-4 on the night.
The Roadrunners traveled to Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California to play the Ontario Reign on Saturday. Roadrunner goalie Marek Langhamer had an AHL record 50 saves, on 54 shot attempts. With the strong performance from the goaltender the Roadrunners won a 5-4 game putting up 28 shots in the victory.
Both teams scored goals on the power play with Tucson going 2-4 and Ontario going 1-4. Jamie McBain opened the scoring early for the Roadrunners with Fischer and Kyle Wood collecting assists. Ontario quickly followed the goal with one of their own as Brett Sutter scored his 15th of the season. Laurent Dauphin and Zbynek Michalek also scored first period goals; Fischer picked up another assist making it two for the period.
Jeremy Morin and Grayson Downing both scored their first goals for the Roadrunners since being traded and Morin also collected an assist on the Downing goal giving him a two-point night.
The Roadrunners stayed in Ontario to play the Reign once again on Sunday. The Reign collected a dominating 5-0 win over the Roadrunners who were playing in their third game in three nights. The Reign outshot the Roadrunners 41-22.
Both teams were perfect on the penalty kill with the Roadrunners going 0-5 on the power play and the Reign went 0-3. Jack Campbell was in net for the Reign, he picked up his third shutout win of the season. Roadrunner goalie Adin Hill was in net for Tucson, he stopped 36 of 41 shots faced. Ontario Reign Jonny Brodzinski scored two goals and collected an assist earing him the first star of the game.
The Roadrunners return home Friday and Saturday to take on the Bakersfield Condors. The Condors currently hold the last playoff spot in the Pacific Division, these games could decide who will be going to the playoffs starting in April.
The Roadrunners first game with the Condors on Friday, March 17th is at 7:05 p.m. in Tucson Arena.
Follow Tanner Harris on Twitter
