The Topeka RoadRunners power play came alive on Sunday afternoon, netting four goals on eleven chances en route to a 5-2 win over Corpus Christi to secure the weekend sweep.
After going 0 for 3 with the man advantage on Friday night, it took only :10 seconds for Willie Brown to lift a high wrister over the shoulder of the Ice Rays goalie for a 1-0 lead at 5:30 of the first. Nic Laburn tied it on a power play goal of his own at 17:21 and the game remained tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes.
Wes Michaud needed only :16 seconds of power play time when he snapped home the rebound of an Anthony Cortese shot at 6:35, giving the Ice Rays their first lead of the weekend. The RoadRunners answered back to tie the game at 2-2 with a Shawn Brennan goal assisted by Yu Hikosaka, again on the power play. Daniel Rzavsky helped Topeka regain the lead after hammering a blast on a one-timer, set up nicely by Daniel Brickley and Cam Strong. The Ice Rays stayed within striking range as they killed off a full two minute 5-on-3 power play, followed by another 2 minute penalty kill immediately afterward. Topeka led 3-2 after 2 periods, with all 5 goals being scored on a power play. Shots on goal were 30-16 in favor of Topeka through 40 minutes.
The first even strength goal of the game came at 8:23 of the third period when Sly Sutter took a perfect pass from Willie Brown that allowed him to split the defense and walk in alone, firing a wrister high on the blocker side giving Topeka some breathing room with a 4-2 edge. The RoadRunners put the game away with their fourth power play goal, coming off the blade of Ryan Polin at 14:34 assisted by Hikosaka and Brennan. Corpus Christi spent 4 of the remaining 5:26 killing off a pair of penalties and Topeka would coast to the 5-2 win and a weekend sweep. Goalie Matej Tomek stopped 25 of 27 shots in the win.
Up next Topeka heads to Blaine, MN for the annual NAHL Showcase Tournament which begins Wednesday when the ‘Runners face the Keystone Ice Miners at 5pm. The game will be aired live on Sports Radio 1490 KTOP and available for pay-per-view on Fast Hockey (www.fasthockey.com) with play-by-play provided by Arch Ecker.