RoadRunners beat Bulls in OT on Monday, 3-2

March 18, 2014

Amarillo Bulls 2 @ Topeka RoadRunners 3 (OT) - There wasn't enough time in regulation to settle this one, but the Runners hunkered down in overtime to inch a little closer to the top spot in the South by beating Amarillo 3-2 in the lone NAHL game on Monday night.

The first period was penalty heavy (14 combined penalty minutes) which pitted the Runners penalty kill against the league's best power play unit three times. But the third time was the charm for the Runners as Jake Kamrass got a pass from Jerad Tafoya on a shorthanded charge to the Bulls net and made it count, giving Topeka the lead at 15:40. The Bulls had some great chances the rest of the way on their power play, including a big shot from Joe Grabowski that was turned aside by PJ Bridges. The Bulls outshot the RoadRunners 9-6.

The Bulls tied the game early in the second period when Matt Sieckhaus converted a 2-on-1 pass from Brendan McGuire and Mitchell McPherson. Less than two minutes later on yet another penalty kill, Clint Garris stole the puck across the middle and scored on a shorthanded breakaway that would give the Runners a 2-1 heading into the third. The Bulls kept pressing in the stanza as Mike Davis’ one timer was denied by Bridges. The shots were even in the second period 8-8.

The 'Runners had it under control until the final minute of the game when they were whistled for too many men on the ice. On the ensuing power play, Amarillo pulled their goalie for an extra attacker and a two-man advantage. The gambit worked, allowing Tyler Gernhoffer to slap in the tying goal with only 33 seconds remaining.

In overtime, it was the Runners who had the edge with a power play spilling over from the final seconds of regulation. Just 52 seconds into the extra frame, James Ring collected the game winner and another point in the standings for Topeka. The Runners now trail Amarillo by three points and can close that gap to one on Tuesday night. With five games left in the regular season, Topeka continues to hang in the race for the regular season division crown.

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