By Staff report
Hunter Schneider scored two goals for the Springfield Junior Blues in their 3-2 North American Hockey League victory over the Topeka RoadRunners Saturday night at the Nelson Center.
It gave Springfield (10-3-2) a split of the two-game series. The Junior Blues’ 22 points left them three points behind first-place Fairbanks in the NAHL Midwest Division, pending the outcome of Fairbanks’ home game against Johnstown late Saturday.
The score was tied 1-1 after one period Saturday, with Schneider having given Springfield a 1-0 lead on a goal assisted by Joey Lupo just 48 seconds into the game.
Schneider then scored a short-handed goal assisted by Lupo and Kyle Meeh at 14:02 into the second period. Lupo got another short-handed tally with just :58 left in the second period to open a 3-1 lead.
Topeka’s J.B. Baker scored to cut the lead to 3-2 early in the third period. But the Junior Blues and goaltender Tommy Nappier held on for the win.
Springfield outshot Topeka 45-27. The teams were a combined 0-for-13 on power-play opportunities, with the RoadRunners 0-for-7.
The Junior Blues and RoadRunners will meet again next Friday and Saturday at Topeka, with both games starting at 7:05 p.m.