Game #15: Tucson Roadrunners (0) at Calgary Wranglers (4)
Game #15: Tucson Roadrunners at Calgary Wranglers
SOG: TUC (24) – CGY (34)
PP: TUC (0/2) – CGY (1/7)
CALGARY SCORING: Adam Klapka (6), Adam Klapka (7), Ben Jones (5), Ben Jones (6)
TUCSON SCORING:
![](http://www.tucsonroadrunners.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Score_Red_1900x630-6-1030x342.png)
ROADRUNNERS DROP WEDNESDAY NIGHT MATHCUP WITH CALGARY WRANGLERS 4-0 AT THE SCOTIABANK SADDLEDOME
CALGARY, AB – The Tucson Roadrunners dropped a Thanksgiving Eve matchup with Calgary 4-0 to fall to 8-6-0-1 on the season. The game was 1-0 heading to the third period. Tucson won the series opener 3-2 on Tuesday.
YA GOTTA SEE IT
Tucson Roadrunners goalie Matthew Villalta, or Villwalltla” as we like to say, makes a huge second period stop to keep it a 1-0 game. Villalta was terrific on both Tuesday and Wednesday against Calgary. Villalta stopped 30/34 shots against Wednesday and kept the Roadrunners in the game.
DON’T OVERLOOK IT
WE LOVE PENALTY-KILLS – The Tucson Roadrunners penalty-kill unit has been sensational all season. They are 27 for their last 29 including 6 of 7 Wednesday in Calgary. The Roadrunners currently rank second in the Pacific Division with a 86.6 penalty-kill percentage. Tucson hung tough keeping it a 1-0 game through 40 minutes despite power-plays finishing 7-2 in favor of Calgary.
LOOK AT THIS
![](http://www.tucsonroadrunners.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/53350441160_bbef07023a_o-1030x501.jpg)
Forward Josh Doan fights his way to the net for the Roadrunners in Wednesday night’s game. Doan was unable to score but had some great chances in the series including a power-play goal on Tuesday night.
THEY SAID IT
If you’re in a one goal game on the road, it’s a good look but we couldn’t get over the hump. We’ll stay out of the box this weekend and get Matty (Villalta) some help
Forward Zach Sanford after Tucson’s 4-0 loss to Calgary
THE RUNDOWN
The first period was a track meet back and forth between the two teams but would ultimately result in a 0-0 score. The Roadrunners flashed their strong penalty-kill unit killing off two minor penalties throughout the period. Tucson netminder Matthew Villalta was sharp in the frame stopping all nine Calgary shots on goal.
Just after the five-minute mark of period two it would be Calgary who found the back of the net and broke the 0-0 pitcher’s duel. After two more penalty-kills for the Roadrunners the second frame would come to an end still 1-0 Calgary. Matthew Villalta was again, phenomenal as he stopped 12/13 shots from the Wranglers.
The third period became a scoring frenzy for the Wranglers, but the box score might tell a different story than anyone who tuned in. Matthew Villalta was making save after save to keep the Roadrunners in the game and was only beaten on the power-play, an odd-man rush at four-on-four and on a breakaway. Calgary would score goal two of the evening just under two minutes into the period. At the 11:41 mark they would add the third, and then cap it off with a fourth in the final minute of play. Tucson will look to bounce back in Henderson against the Silver Knights on Saturday afternoon.