Runners Blank The Lopes 4-0
Six long weeks away and your Topeka RoadRunners were finally back at Landon Arena Thursday night. It’s good to be home. Two goals in each of the first two periods and a stellar performance by PJ Bridges combined to clip the Jackalopes 4-0 in the first game of this three game series.
After an initial flurry around the Odessa net that saw pucks go just wide, Mike Gornall broke through with the eventual game-winner at 10:45 (assisted by Jasen Fernsler and Sly Sutter). Andrew Roye added another less than five minutes later (assisted by Clint Garris and Cody Champagne at 15:30) to give the Runners a 2-0 lead heading into the second.
Sutter found the net unassisted at 4:56 of the second to make it 3-0. At 10:50, shorthanded after a Garris minor, Jake Kamrass stole the puck in the offensive zone (assisted by Jerad Tafoya) and delivered it to the top shelf to seal the deal at 4-0 before the third period could even begin. Great play by the defense did the rest and, when the puck found its way through, PJ Bridges was more than equal to the task. Stopping all 16 shots on net, Bridges earned his second shutout of the season and the team’s third.
It all happens again Friday night with the start of Shriners Weekend at Landon Arena. The Runners will be wearing special Shriners jerseys both Friday and Saturday night that will be auctioned off after Saturday’s game with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit the Topeka Arab Shrine. For more information on tickets, call 785-286-PUCK or visit www.TopekaRoadRunners.com.