RoadRunners pull out come-from-behind OT win on Sunday
January 21, 2018
Chad Hillebrand had the overtime-winner on Sunday.
Springfield Jr. Blues 1 @ Topeka RoadRunners 2 (OT) – In the lone NAHL game on Sunday, it was a classic goaltenders duel, as Topeka’s Emil Gransoe and Springfield’s Jurja Ovecka went toe-to-toe in Topeka. In the end, a late RoadRunners goal in regulation and one 1:43 into overtime gave the home side a 2-1 win and weekend sweep of the visiting Jr. Blues.
After a scoreless 1st period, which saw Topeka outshoot Springfield, 14-8, the Jr. Blues were the first ones to get on the board in the 2nd period as Brandon Puricelli scored on the power play with an assist to Nikita Kozyrev.
Just when it looked like the Jr. Blues would escape with the shutout win courtesy of Ovecka, the RoadRunners tied the game with just :12 seconds in regulation as Nick Schultze scored his 7th goal of the season with assists to Matt Barnes and Mason Vukonich.
In the overtime, Chad Hillebrand collected the puck in his own zone and skated uncontested up the left side of the ice, ultimately getting a quality shot off, which beat Ovecka low to the short side for the game-winner and sweep. Barnes picked up his second assist of the game on the goal and Branden Rons also assisted.
Gransoe made 30 saves in the win, while Ovecka, who was :12 seconds from the shutout, made 35 saves in the OT loss.
