Walker’s Two-Goal Third Period, Hebig’s Record Not Enough in 5-4 Loss in Henderson

April 4, 2026

Roadrunners Recap: 4/4/2026

Game #66: Tucson Roadrunners (4) at Henderson Silver Knights (5)

SOG: TUC (29) – HSK (27)
PP: TUC (0/1) – HSK (1/1)

HENDERSON SCORING: Raphael Lavoie (25), Jonas Røndbjerg (13), Braeden Bowman (8, 9), Dylan Coghlan (14)
TUCSON SCORING: Daniil But (18), Austin Poganski (22), Sammy Walker (11, 12)

HENDERSON, NV – The Tucson Roadrunners (30-27-9-0) fell in heartbreaking fashion for the second straight night in a 5-4 loss to the Henderson Silver Knights (35-20-7-4) on Saturday at Lee’s Family Forum.

Tucson opened the scoring and held two early leads but trailed 3-2 entering the third period. However, the Roadrunners climbed back in front late after Sammy Walker scored twice in the final frame to tie the game and give Tucson their first lead since late in the opening period.

Henderson responded with two goals in a 1:10 span in the final two minutes, as Dylan Coghlan tied the game with 1:26 remaining before Braeden Bowman netted the game-winner with 16 seconds left.

Walker was one of three Roadrunners to record multi-point efforts while scoring in back-to-back games, joined by captain Austin Poganski and rookie Daniil But, who each had a goal and an assist. Ben McCartney added two assists for Tucson’s fourth multi-point performance of the evening.

Lleyton Moore, Robbie Russo and Cameron Hebig also contributed assists. Hebig’s helper on Walker’s go-ahead goal marked his 181st career point with Tucson, setting a new franchise all-time points record and passing Michael Bunting’s previous mark of 180.

In net, rookie Michael Hrabal made his second career AHL start, stopping 22 of 27 shots. Rookie defenseman Brandon Holt recorded three shots on goal and finished with a plus-3 in his AHL debut after signing out of the University of Maine on Thursday.

With the loss, Tucson remains five points behind the seventh-place San Diego Gulls for the final Pacific Division playoff spot with six games remaining.

HIGHLIGHTS

TEAM NOTES

Rookie defenseman Brandon Holt became the eighth Roadrunner to make his AHL debut this season, joining fellow rookies Dmitri Simashev, Daniil But, Owen Allard, Terrell Goldsmith, Jack Ricketts, Michael Hrabal, and European import Michal Kunc.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

In addition to breaking Michael Bunting’s franchise points record, Saturday’s assist also marked Cameron Hebig’s 48th point of the season, surpassing his career-high 47-point season set during the 2024-25 campaign.
Daniil But recorded his ninth multi-point game of the season, tallying both his 18^th goal and assist of the season, all in the first period. He is tied for the eighth-most goals among AHL rookies.
But has scored in back-to-back games and in five of his last seven games since March 14 vs. San Jose, totaling 12 points (6g, 6a) in that span.
Austin Poganski recorded his team-leading 14th multi-point game of the season, tallying his career-high 22nd goal and 29th assist, all in the first period.
Poganski has scored in back-to-back games and in six of his last 10, totaling 13 points (8g, 5a) since March 11 vs. Henderson, with five multi-point efforts in that span.
Poganski now leads the team in goals and is tied with Ben McCartney for the team lead in points (51).
Robbie Russo recorded an assist for the second straight game, giving him 11 on the season, and has seven points (1g, 6a) over his last nine games since March 11 vs. Henderson.
Sammy Walker scored for the second straight game, netting his 11^th and 12^th goals of the season to surpass last year’s total (10 in 2024–25).
Saturday marked the second time this season Walker has scored in consecutive games, the first since Jan. 4–9, and also his second multi-goal performance of the year, the first since the season-opener on Oct. at Ontario.
Ben McCartney extended his single-season career high with his 29^th and 30^th assists of the year, which leads Roadrunners forwards.
Saturday marked McCartney’s 10^th multi-point game and fourth multi-assist effort of the season.
McCartney has recorded four assists in his first five games back after missing time from Feb. 28–Mar. 27.
Lleyton Moore extended his single-season career high with his eighth assist of the year. The assist marked his career-high ninth point of the season, surpassing his previous career-best of eight in 2024-25.
Moore has an assist in each of his last two games dating back to Mar. 11 vs Henderson.

*Daniil But’s goal on Saturday marked his 18th of the season, tying him for eighth among AHL rookies. (Photo: Henderson Silver Knights)*

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST PERIOD
The Roadrunners came out flying and recorded the game’s first six shots while holding the Silver Knights without one until the 10:22 mark of the period.

Tucson’s sixth shot found the back of the net as Daniil But scored his second goal in as many nights to give the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead at 7:06. Captain Austin Poganski set up the play by intercepting a Henderson clearing attempt just inside the blue line and quickly fed But in the low slot. With time and space, But deked to his backhand and slipped the puck past goaltender Carl Lindbom.

Henderson answered on its first shot of the night, capitalizing on its first power play as Raphael Lavoie buried a one-timer from the left circle to tie the game 1-1 at 10:22.

Tucson pushed back and nearly regained the lead just over two minutes later when Maveric Lamoureux’s point shot created a rebound at the top of the crease, but the Silver Knights cleared the puck out of harm’s way.

The Roadrunners broke through again at 13:43, as Poganski scored his second of the series after he redirected Robbie Russo’s point shot past Lindbom to restore Tucson’s 2-1 lead.

Henderson responded once more, with Braeden Bowman sending a shot from the right wall that Jonas Røndbjerg tipped home at the top of the crease to tie the game 2-2 at 15:11.

Despite outshooting Henderson 11-5 in the period, Tucson entered the first intermission deadlocked at 2-2.

SECOND PERIOD
The Roadrunners had an early opportunity to regain the lead after drawing their first power play just over three minutes into the period. Tucson generated a few quality looks, including consecutive point shots from Max Szuber, but couldn’t convert.

Their grade-A chance came just under eight minutes in, when Sam Lipkin broke free for a breakaway, but Lindbom turned him aside with a two-pad stack to keep the game tied.

Lindbom delivered another highlight-reel save later in the period when he denied a second Tucson breakaway. Sammy Walker sped past a Henderson defender and attempted to deke around Lindbom at the top of the crease, but the Henderson netminder shut the door with a glove save to keep the game even with 8:20 remaining.

Henderson capitalized on the momentum and took its first lead late in the period. Jakub Brabenec found Bowman alone in the slot, where he snapped the puck home top shelf to give the Silver Knights a 3-2 advantage with 4:06 left.

THIRD PERIOD
Just under two minutes in, Bowman nearly scored his second of the night after finding the puck alone in front, but Hrabal denied him with a paddle save to keep Tucson within one.

The Roadrunners answered moments later, as Walker jammed home a loose rebound in the crease to tie the game 3-3 at 6:04.

Walker struck again with 5:47 remaining, finishing a two-on-one rush with Cameron Hebig by burying a one-timer off a centering pass from Hebig to give Tucson a 4-3 lead.

The game appeared headed for overtime, but the Silver Knights scored twice in a 1:10 span in the final two minutes to steal the win. Dylan Coghlan tied the game with 1:26 remaining, and Bowman netted his second of the night, and the game-winner, with just 16 seconds left to lift Henderson to a 5-4 victory.

UP NEXT
The Roadrunners continue their road trip Wednesday with a matchup against the Bakersfield Condors at Dignity Health Arena. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. AZT. Fans can listen live on FOX Sports 1450 AM and the iHeartRadio app and watch on AHLtv on FloHockey.