Bridges ties mark in shutout of Bulls on Tuesday
Amarillo Bulls 0 @ Topeka RoadRunners 1 - Topeka is now only one point behind division-leading Amarillo after taking both games of the series against the Bulls after a 1-0 shutout win at Landon Arena Tuesday night.
The win was the seventh-straight victory for the Runners over the Bulls since losing their first five to their bitter rival to start the season. James Ring was the hero in this one when, with goaltender PJ Bridges was pulled for an extra attacker on a delayed penalty call, he finished off a crisp crossing pass from Ryan Polin into the net (also assisted by Michal Uhrik) at 14:03 of the second period. That game winner was Ring's second in as many games and his fourth of the season.
From there, the defense took over and limited Amarillo to single-digit shot totals in each period. PJ Bridges did the rest, stopping all 21 shots on net to collect his 10th shutout of the season. The 10 shutouts ties an NAHL single-season mark set two years ago by Robert Nichols of the Wenatchee Wild. Bridges record in net moved to 24-4-3 and 7-2-0 against the Bulls.
The win not only shortened the distance to the division crown, it also created more distance between the Runners and the third-place Killer Bees. Whether or not Topeka can surpass Amarillo, securing home ice in the first round is still a top priority. Four games remain in the regular season with the Bulls facing Wichita Falls and Odessa, the Killer Bees facing Corpus Christi, and the Runners facing Springfield and Wichita Falls.
