TUCSON, AZ. – Colorado forwards Jean-Luc Foudy and Alex Newhook each netted a goal, but a two-goal second period would provide the game-winning goal for Tucson, as the Roadrunners defeated the Eagles, 3-2 on Friday. Hunter Miska suffered the loss in net, allowing three goals on 31 shots. Specialty teams proved to be a bright spot for Colorado, as the penalty kill went a perfect 4-for-4 while the power play ended the night 1-for-2.
The scoring would begin early in the contest when Tucson forward Nate Sucese cut through the left-wing circle before snapping a shot into the back of the net to give the Roadrunners a 1-0 edge just 3:31 into the first period.
Colorado would generate a quick answer, as Foudy blew past a pair of Tucson defenders at center ice and lifted a backhander past Roadrunners’ goaltender Ivan Prosvetov to tie the game at 1-1 with 10:11 left to play in the opening 20 minutes. Tucson would go on to outshoot the Eagles, 11-10 in the period and the two teams would head to the first intermission with the game still tied at 1-1.
The Roadrunners would jump back on top in the opening minutes of the second period when forward Tyler Steenbergen buried a wrister from the high slot, putting Tucson back in the driver’s seat, 2-1 at the 2:36 mark of the middle frame.
A power play later in the period would set up Newhook to light the lamp with a wrister from the left-wing circle, tying the game at 2-2 with 10:40 remaining in the second period.
Roadrunners forward Michael Carcone would give his team the lead once again when he snapped a shot from the top of the left-wing circle that would glance off the glove of Miska and into the net. The goal was Carcone’s team-leading 12th of the season and gave the Roadrunners a 3-2 advantage at the 15:08 mark of the period.
Still trailing 3-2 to begin the final 20 minutes of regulation, Colorado would throw 10 shots on net in the period, but a late power play would come up empty and Tucson would hold on for the 3-2 victory. Prosvetov earned the win in net, stopping 33 of the 35 shots he faced in the contest.