Game Recap: Ontario (5) at Tucson (1)
Roadrunners Recap: 3/16/21
Regular Season Game #13: Ontario (5) at Tucson (1)
RECORDS: ONT 4-10-2-0 – TUC 6-7-0-0
SOG: ONT (24) – TUC (36)
PP: ONT – (0/2) – TUC (0/6)
ONTARIO SCORING: Arthur Kaliyev (4), Rasmus Kupari (3), Bokondji Imama (3), Quinton Byfield (2)(SH), Mikey Eyssimont (2)
TUCSON SCORING: Barrett Hayton (1)
TUCSON ROADRUNNERS WELCOME FANS BACK TO TUCSON ARENA FOR FIRST TIME THIS SEASON TUESDAY NIGHT AGAINST ONTARIO
Tucson, Arizona – The Tucson Roadrunners welcomed fans back to the Tucson Arena for the first time this season, for the first of four games this week, beginning with a matchup with the Ontario Reign. Tucson outshot Ontario 36 to 24, but ultimately suffered a 5-1 loss.
Ontario opened the scoring off of a turnover a little over nine minutes into the contest, the fourth score of the season for Arthur Kaliyev. Ontario added another in the waning seconds of the period, Rasmus Kupari’s third of the season, assisted by Kaliyev for his second point of the evening. Tucson created several scoring chances but couldn’t capitalize and faced a 2-0 deficit heading into the first intermission. Ontario opened the scoring in the second period, with a score by Bokondji Imama 2:40 into the middle period. The remaining 17:20 of the second period would be without a goal, and Tucson would trail 3-0 heading into the final frame. Ontario added a shorthanded goal less than a minute into the third period from 2020 second overall pick Quinton Byfield. The Roadrunners got on the board six minutes later, with Barrett Hayton burying a shot for his first goal of the season with the Roadrunners. Ontario answered back with their fifth goal of the night, and the score would stand at 5-1.
The Roadrunners continue Fan Week Wednesday for the second of two games with the Ontario Reign. Face-off is at 6:30pm MST. You can listen to the game in Tucson on FOX Sports 1450 AM and on the iHeart Radio app or watch the game on AHL TV.
THEY SAID IT
“There were a lot of positives throughout this game. Obviously when you lose 5-1 it doesn’t feel good. But our shots were up, we were minimizing shots against, and we drew penalties, we just need to convert on the power-play.”
Tucson Roadrunners head coach Steve Potvin after the game on his takeaways after Tuesday night’s loss to Ontario.
DON’T OVERLOOK IT
SHOOTING THEIR SHOT – The Tucson Roadrunners have outshot their opponents in five of the last six games, for a total of 230 shots for and 162 shots against in that span. Tucson outshot the Ontario Reign 36 to 24 Tuesday night at home.
YA GOTTA SEE IT
Watch as Arizona Coyotes 2018 fifth overall pick Barrett Hayton finds the back of the net for the first time this season for the Roadrunners. Hayton appeared in five games with the Roadrunners last season on a conditioning assignment, recording five points in his stint in Southern Arizona a year ago.
PHOTO OF THE GAME
Tuesday night marked the return of spectators to the Tucson Arena in limited capacity. Tucson Roadrunners fans were able to see their team in person for the first time in over a year. Fans were able to cheer on the Roadrunners in socially-distanced seats throughout the arena.
(Photo Credits: Chris Hook)
