Returning to the ice after the short Christmas break, the Topeka RoadRunners squared off with South Division rivals, the Wichita Falls Wildcats.
The first period was a scoreless affair but was not without it's chances, as a Cam Strong shot clanged off the goal post among other opportunities. Topeka outshot Wichita Falls 9-6 in that opening stanza but neither side could score.
Topeka jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 3:43 of the second period when Cam Strong and Carlos Fornaris sprinted through a WIldcat faceoff win to create a 2-on-1 rush where Strong fed a perfect crossing pass to Fornaris on the right side for the one-timer and the lead. With Daniel Brickley in the penalty box, Wichita Falls notched their first power goal of the year against the 'Runners as Kevin Charyszyn tapped home a wide open rebound at 10:31. Topeka retook the lead when Fornaris chased down the puck in the right wing corner on the forecheck, firing it across to Jasen Fernsler who snapped it home on the blocker side for a 2-1 lead at 16:15, but the 'Cats answered yet again when Colin Staub swept home a rebound at 18:21 of the 2nd period and the game was tied 2-2 after 40 minutes.
Daniel Rzavsky had scored in each of the two games in Wichita Falls in September and had narrowly missed a couple of chances in this game as well, but when Tyler Irvine broke up a Wildcat pass at their blue line, Rzavsky made no mistake as he ripped a heavy shot past David Zevnik for a 3-2 lead that ended up being the final margin. The 'Runners outshot the Wildcats 29-26, improving to 14-1-1 in Landon Arena this season.
Topeka (23-6-3) and Wichita Falls (21-6-0) meet again Sunday night at 6:05.