The Topeka RoadRunners, for reasons known only to the hockey gods, were 1-2-1 on Fridays against Springfield this season (0-1-1 at the Nelson Center), but a perfect 4-0-0 on Saturdays. The \’Runners got the proverbial monkey off their back Friday with a 4-1 road win behind a solid effort across the board.
In a first period that was a flurry of end to end action, it was Springfield who got on the board first when Brian Prost sent a quick pass in front of the Topeka net to newcomer Tim Prinz who tucked it home for a 1-0 lead at 2:49. It ended up being the only goal of the period, though the \’Runners outshot the Jr. Blues 11-9 in the period.
Undeterred by being blanked through the first period, the RoadRunners came out in the second and continued to match the Jr. Blues stride for stride, hit for hit. It was a Bob Marx power play goal, a low shot from the left point that beat Andrew Martin low glove side through a screen that got Topeka on the board at 10:29, and then Michael Hill battled through traffic to jam home a rebound of his own shot off the end boards at 16:17, giving the \’Runners their first lead of the evening at 2-1, a lead they still held at the end of two periods.
Any aspirations of a comeback for Springfield were dealt a sharp blow just :27 into the third when third year veteran Martin Sundstedt blistered a snap shot upstairs on a 2-on-1 break for a 3-1 lead. For good measure, Tony Thomas redirected a Bryce Johnson shot just above the crease on the power play at 5:59 for the 4-1 margin that proved to be the final score. Goalie Evan Karambelas, facing Springfield for the first time this season turned aside 28 of the 29 shots he faced for the win. His 15th win of the season also knocked his GAA down to 1.93, third best in the NAHL.
Topeka (34-7-4) and Springfield (17-22-5) meet again Saturday. The \’Runners have now won 5 in a row, and remain 5 points ahead of St. Louis, who defeated Wichita Falls Friday night 3-0 at home in the first of a three game weekend series.
