The Topeka RoadRunners bounced back from early deficits in games three and four to overcome the Wildcats and move on to the South Division Championship Finals.
On Monday night, the Runners fell behind 2-0 in the second period when Sly Sutter broke the team's four period scorless streak with a netter at 7:31 assisted by Daniel Brickley. At 10:28, Sutter and Brickley would combine to assist JB Baker on a power play goal to even the score at two. Early in the final frame, Brickley struck again, also on a power play to push the Runners into the lead for the first time since game one of the series. The defense and Matej Tomek held on despite a furious late push from the Wildcats offense for a 3-2 victory.
In game four, the Runners had their backs to the wall after falling behind 3-0 when Sly Sutter once again broke the spell, scoring on a power play at 10:06 of the second to make it 3-1. The Runners would benefit from two more power play goals, Carlos Fornaris' at 12:52 of the second and Yu Hikosaka's at 6:27 of the third, to tie the game at three. Brickley once again came up huge with the go-ahead goal at 12:28 and Sutter shut the door with an empty netter in the game's final minute. The win propels the Runners into the South Division Finals against either the Wenatchee Wild or the Lone Star Brahmas.
Dates and start times for the upcoming finals series will be announced once the pairing has been set. For more informtion on tickets, call 785-286-PUCK or visit the Expocentre Box Office.