April 14, 2025 • 47 mins
Voice of the Roadrunners Jonathon Schaffer and Arizona Daily Star's James Kelley recap Tucson's final two games of the 2024-25 regula season on the road in Rockford versus the IceHogs. They also go over playoff clinching scenarios for the Roadrunners in the final two games of the season versus Colorado and how the Pacific Division can shake up as a whole. They also reveal goaltender Matthew Villalta's start with the Utah Hockey Club and hear from Utah Head Coach Andre Tourigny on Matty V's first start with the Club
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
When you want more road Runners, We've got more road Runners.
This is the Tucson Roadrunners Insider Podcast with a voice
of the road Runners Jonathan Shaefer.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What advice do you have for me?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Drink a lot of water. It's pretty odd.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
And your new best friend, my best friend, Arizona Daily
Stars James Kelly. The guys are already talking, so let's
join up right here on your twuson Roadrunners Insider Podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
It is all coming down to the wire this weekend
at the Twoson Arena. Welcome to this week's insider podcast.
My name is Jonathan Schaeffer. Alongside me as always Arizona
Daily Stars James Kelly. It is the last two games
of the twenty four to twenty five regular season coming
up this weekend at the Tucson Arena on Friday and Saturday,
(00:48):
both games coming up against the Colorado Eagles. And this
is it, James, this is where it all comes down to.
It's uh, we'll keep an eye on Bakersfield for Wednesday. Again,
it's the Abbotsford Canucks. But you know that game is huge,
and it really is. It's gonna come down to what
the Roadrunners need to do on this Friday and Saturday
(01:10):
against the Colorado Eagles to clinch the final spot of
the AHL's Specific Division playoff race.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
We are two points ahead of the Bakersfield Condors.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Bakersfield has a game against the Abbotsford Canucks on Wednesday
that I assume all the Roadrunners will be watching, and
depending on that week, that game on that Wednesday, it's
either gonna come down to all the Roadrunners need to
do is get a win or if Bakersfield does get
a point or does win that game, we're just gonna
(01:41):
have to outmatch them. The last two games of the season,
Bakersfield has Henderson on this Friday and Saturday we have
the Colorado Eagles. Still so many hypotheticals for other teams
in this division and all coming down to the wire
now after just getting one point against the Rockford IceHogs
and two losses this past week as well, and it's exciting.
(02:02):
I think it's great that we're home through these last
two games. It's going to be huge crowds over the weekend.
It's our last last of day two song game on
Friday night fan Appreciate Night on Saturday, and one of
those games the Roadrunners can be finishing that with a
potential spot for the twenty four to twenty five Calder
Cup playoffs, which we don't even still know the first
round potential suitor for us as well, And it's going
(02:24):
to be a very very crazy week just to see
how it all ended.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Winds.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
It was another wild week for the road Ow Nurse.
It looked like it was going to be a rough
one after the those first few days, after they got
that big sleep against Bakersfield where they had that five
point lead almost evaporate and they for you know, for
almost not twenty four hours, but you know, eighteen hours whatever,
but twenty hours they had that their ability to control
(02:51):
on destiny ended when bakers Should won on Friday and
the Rudners lost on Friday and lead is one point,
but their own own nurs rebounded, they got a point,
a hard fought game against Rockford, and then Coachella Valley
helped out the Roadunds with the four to two win.
It was kind of wild game where they started off
with what was like four goals in the first period. Well,
(03:14):
this is gonna be a lot different than than their
game on a Friday, Bakersfield game on Friday, when they
won five to zero and going into that, going into
the last week, I was thinking that, you know, maybe
San Diego is gonna give them more a battle, and
you saw that. You saw that what happened in the
Condos first game last week when they beat Henderson four
to two, as kind of more was expecting, you know,
(03:35):
probably Bakersfield to win, but I'm Henderson and San Diego
teams that are at the bottom of the division kind
of fight for pride and whatever. But then on Friday,
bakers Shield came in and smacked San Diego. They won
five to zero, and so the Roaders were only leading
by at one point, but now they're back up to
two and which is kind of easier in terms of
(03:55):
because it's more obviously more often you get two points
or zero point instead at one point. So not so
the easier for the standings because the you look at
it like, well, if the the Pikersfield wins on uh
in their next game on Wednesday, they when they're playing
against Atmospherd, and then they'll then they'll catch up their
owners in terms of points, but their owners have the tiebreakers,
(04:15):
so they'll still be had. But it's so easier simpler
for that, you know, rather than mean, with the odd
number like that kind of kind of more difficult, you know.
But anyway, like we said, we've been hyping it up.
It's a big series and the in the year. It's
kind of tough for their owners in the sense that
they have to play the first place team who's you know,
battling for HOMESI Vans throughout the playoffs. It's kind of
(04:35):
a kind of gonna be kind of tough for them
in terms of right now they have three games left
and ninety two points, and Laval has ninety seven points
three games left and then leave all over in the
North Division and the Atlantic Division of Hershey has ninety
three points and three games left, and then and in
the Central Division, Milwaukee is eighty nine points, so you know,
(04:58):
probably get home miceive and for them if they continue
winning obviously in the conference finals, but for the call
to Cup finals, it'll it might be tough for them
to overcome the ball or something and if foot ball
actually makes it through there. But you know, a lot
to play for it for Colorado and obviously not a
lot to play for Henderson, who Mavisford is playing this weekend.
So after they play Avitsford, which they have a lot
(05:19):
to play for in terms of trying to get that
number two seed. Right now, they're tied in points with Ontario,
so it's a wild series, wild chase with those two teams.
Kind of big difference between playing on in Ontario and
playing in Abtsford for their Runners. If the Runners do
actually make it into the playoffs, so that two slot
would be playing the seventh slot. So if Avertsford and
(05:41):
Ontario battling out right there and then Tucson or bakers
Shoves would play them in the first round. So it's
just a lot to play for these last week, for
the last few, last few days.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Yeah, Obisford has the tie breaker over Ontario. We've been
talking about the regulation wins for US in Bakersfield, but
you got to look at these other teams too, right,
James abbots for thirty five regulation wins. Ontarioly has thirty one,
So Ontario can't even mathematically catch up to Abbotsford with
the regulation wins. With both of them only having three
games up to go on the schedule, Coachella Valley could
(06:13):
potentially still get to the second seed, they just need
Abbots for it. In the Canucks, Abbotsford and Ontario to
lose some games as well. You have Calgary and San
Jose who are still also fighting for that fourth seed
as well. So Abbits for the Ontario have at least Abbotsford,
the Colorado've already clinched hole Mie advantage, you know. For
(06:34):
Ontario they still you know, they're they're they have already
clinched home My advantage too, I guess mathematically. And so
with that being said, it's still all just kind of
flip flopping around and it's going to be insane. You know,
we can even still play Coachella Valley in the first round. Again,
Coachella Valley just needs a lot of help from you know,
both of the teams playing Abbotsford in Ontario to close
(06:57):
out the regular season. And again big game coming on Wednesday,
even for Abbits for two as they're now trying to
lock in that second seed. We're Rabbits for fans on Wednesday.
I hate to say it, but we are. We're gonna
be rooting for them because if Bakersfield does lose that
game on Wednesday, all the Roadrunners need to do against
Colorado is either just get a win or weird scenario,
(07:19):
lose both games in overtime. It just gets you enough
points because the Roadrunners have that type breaker over Bakersfield.
So essentially we're three points ahead of the Condors because
they need to get one point over us in.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
That category as well.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
We have twenty nine regulation wins, they only have twenty one,
so they're obviously not catching up to us in that
regards as well. Calgary and San Jose are battling it
out this weekend, so you know, there's no way the
Roadrunners can catch up for the six or fifth seed.
We're pretty much locked into seventh seed at this point.
But for their sake, they are still also playing for
(07:53):
a whole miice advantage, you know, to try to catch
up to Coachelle Valley Colorado. They play Ontario on Wednesday.
All they need is a point to clinch home ice
advantage in the Pacific Division. All throughout at least those
three rounds, they are well ahead enough of the Mawchie Admiral,
so Colorado has a chance to clinch home mice for
(08:13):
the entirety of the the whole Western Western side for
the playoffs. So it's gonna be very interesting for that
as well. And all Colorado needs is a point. So
there's also scenario James, where if Colorado is able to
clinch on Wednesday, they might rest their starters. We saw
Gabriel with Landeskog make some conditioning starts for the Colorado Eagles,
(08:35):
got a huge goal for them as well to tie
a game up against the Anderson Silver Knights in their
second game against them as well, and those couple of losses,
and if Landiscott plays on Wednesday, I don't think he
played those last two games.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Again, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
I don't know what Colorado's plan is, but considering if
they're able to clinch the first round, we might get
some help in that regards to, you know, maybe have
to play some of their their backups or even if
their starters play, the minutes are gonna be a lot
different as well, just kind of how we did last
year in the end of the year, when we already
knew we were kind of just locked into a home
Iice aidvantaged spot. We rested our guys near the end.
(09:11):
So it's it's gonna be fun. It's it's a next
huge two games for us. We've been fantastic at home
as of recent just coming off of a three to
one home stand.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
I think we could do this. We can.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
We gotta believe in ourselves. But that yeah, that game
against Abbotsford and Bakersfield is gonna be huge because the
Condors have Henderson the last two weeks of the last
two games of the season.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Excuse me, but I don't know what it is.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Henderson is good at playing that spoiler team, and we're
gonna be rooting for them over the weekend as well.
But yeah, there is a scenario where Bakersfield wins on
Wednesday and we both go into the final two games
of the season, both at seventy two points. Again, we
have the tiebreaker. We pretty much need to either win
a game and the Condors lose both games. We went
(09:56):
to both games straight up and we were good to go.
Or if we booth both lose two games and Bakersfield
loses too, then we're in regardless. But it's at that
point where you don't want to keep relying on so
much help.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Right, We're gonna help.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
We're gonna rely on Abbotsford for the help on Wednesday,
but after that, you don't even want to have to
rely on Henderson. You want to take control of your
own destiny. That we've been talking about all week long.
Got a huge point against Rockford on that Saturday night game,
tying it up at one apiece. It was a very
hard fought series. I thought we played two great games.
We just ran into a hot goaltender. And Rockford's just
(10:30):
good at taking advantage of their opportunities that we had
given them in those two games, and I liked their play.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
It just didn't happen.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
We got a huge point on Saturday, and we'll rely
on abbits Front on Wednesday and then hopefully all we
need is a win to get in and we do
just that.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
Well, actually you don't need to rely on Abitsford because
they do the controller on destiny. So you know they
it'd be better obviously after wins. But they have on
their magic numbers on the floor. So if they get
to two wins over this weekend road unners and they
get four points and there if they get you know,
if if they don't, if Coachell I mean if Baggers
(11:07):
fielders get will get get points, then that number changes
if they if they lose, if they don't get any points,
and that number goes on to two. And so you
know they they their runners just need to split if
if Avasford pulls off that that went over Baggersfield on
on Wednesday, So yeah, I think the Runners would be
definitely Runners, and Runners fans would be fans of Amonsford,
(11:29):
but they don't need that in terms of the Runners
have played well enough to control their own destiny and
that that's the thing that you're really we talked about
so much of sports, but it's it's it's it's it's
as important. It's something that you have the beginning of season,
but as the game's end and then more and more
in season ends, you lose that ability if your team
like San Diego or you know, You're you're looking at Iowa.
(11:52):
They were hoping Iowa fans are trashing to soon after
the game because they're like, oh man, after the game
on Friday, like oh man, you lost. You know, you're
you're you're you're hurting us, you know, And it was funny,
We're like wait what what And it was like it
was a Iowa fan and they're mad about that because
the Iowa was clinging to a playoff spot and they
ultimately got eliminated during the Rockford and Tucson games, so
(12:16):
Rockford clinched before clinch their playoff spot during the game,
so during the game on Saturday, so before they even won.
So it was kind of weird, you know, in that sense,
but you know, Tucson has earned that spot opportunity to
just they don't even to them, whatever Bigshield does doesn't
earn the matter in terms of if if they get
to sweep and then they're done. They they if they
(12:36):
sweep first place Carlile, then they're in. And if they
do sweep the first place Colorid, then they definitely deserve
the begin But they could just do not worry about
color Bakersfield. But I do think Bakersfield's gonna have a
tough task to be abas heard. And the important thing
to note about their series against Henderson is that it's
not a regular series that we're used to for Tucson
(12:56):
where it's all that Henderson or all at Bakersfield. He's
a home and home SERI. So the first game of
that one is I think it's I just I should check.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
I'm just gonna check.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
The first game is that is that Bakersfield, and then
this the night the last game on Saturday is that Henderson.
So that would kind of give a boost that you know,
seems like maybe Henderson would be obviously more likely to
win at home, especially with that travel and stuff like that.
For for Bakersfield, they still have a lot to play
for us, so you you'd have to think that Bakersfield
(13:26):
would would be the favorites at home. They do have
abast Ford at home, but again it's a it's a
it's a been a week game, so maybe not as
intense as it would be over on there for the
game on Friday, But it's a situation where, depending on perspective,
maybe the Bakersfield's favored to get that spot, even though
they're a couple of points back and they have to
(13:47):
get help from Tucson, get help from Colorado in order
to get in because that they're playing against the last
place team in the in the last series and Tucson
playing against first place team. But probably I think most
people myself included with favorite Tucson because they control Long
Destiny and they've been good at home, and they've shown
that they could they can get a split against color
(14:08):
which I think is probably what they would need. Honestly,
I think they probably I think Bakersfield probably drops that
game to Avasturd and then they get a split with Henderson,
so that would be good enough for Tucson. At Tucson,
you know, they'll only get two points out of those
that situation, so Tucson would win a tirebreaker. So it's
a situation where the Runners have that a bit, have
(14:28):
that luxury of you know, being able to win out
and not care what Big Shield does. But if they
also have the luxury to look at how Bakersfield does
and see, you know, you know, if they lose, and
it helps the Runners a lot.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
So yeah, yeah, it's a good point too, James. I mean,
regardless of happens Wednesday, you just feel like, you win
two games, you're in and if you beat the top
seed in the hl specific Division race, especially that Colorado
can clinch it on Wednesday, to not only be the
home team for the you know, next couple of or
(15:07):
the entire all rounds in the Western Conference, you still
have a chance to you know, beat that team twice
and then really earn your spots into the hl's Pacific
Division race.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
So it's going to be huge.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
It's so much still to happen, and you know, from
the first round of what it would look like if
the playoffs did start today, we'd have Abbotsford for the
first round best of three series, Ontario and San Jose
a Wood square up, and then you got Coachelle Valley
and the Calgary Wranglers as well. And then for the
Central Division it'd be Rockford versus Chicago, so that's a
(15:43):
nice little rivalry for the first best of three round.
Texas and Gred Rapids would play in the second round,
because cens there's last team in the Central Division. Second
rounds already determined at least for a couple of those teams.
Milwaukee would play the team that comes out that Chicago
and Rockford series. For the North Division, that's been an
(16:03):
absolute madhouse as well, with Belleville right in the mix
of it too. You have the Monsters and the Toronto
Marley's for the first round, and then the Syracuse Crunch
and Rochester Americans second round. Again with the less teams
in the division. The Valves already clinched that division, so
they're just gonna await the Cleveland Monsters in Toronto Marley series.
And then for the first round in the Atlantic, which
(16:24):
is also a lot different, you have Wilkes, Barry and Springfield.
You have Providence and Lehigh Valley. Lee High Valley upset
Providence last year in the first round, so that's a
nice little rematch potentially there too. And then you got
herd She and Charlotte awaiting the winners of that first
round the net in those divisions as well. So it's
kind of funny the Pacific Division that it's the only
(16:46):
division from the first round the playoffs set only has
one team that is already guaranteed you know, the first
round by and also for the second round, while all
other divisions their teams get the win. So it's always
just been such a mad house in our Pacific Division.
It's arguably the hardest division to you know, get out
(17:07):
of when it comes to.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
The playoffs as well.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
But I think that's just what makes it so fun, right,
That's what makes us such a good team, the amount
of times we continue to play these great teams in
this division. And yeah, you can, I think in my
personal opinion, it's either gonna be Ontario or Abbotsford for
that first round. Of course, at least we want Colorado
to get a point. It's either your going to sunny
California or just whatever the weather's like in Abbotsford. But
(17:32):
it's longer trip for twoson regardless, and all of regardless,
we have to fly wherever. It's not just an easy
bus ride wherever we are. And in for Abbitsford, it's
like we've matched up against them well, right, we've beaten
them in two games at their home barn, So you
know you take that. Do you want to go all
the way to Canada to play a team that you've
had success against we beat them in the season series too,
(17:52):
or do you want to go to a team that's
much closer but a team that we've also really struggled
against this year as well?
Speaker 2 (17:58):
And again it's playoffs.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Things change, Mentality changes, especially for us having that underdog mentality.
And of course that's just all hypotheticals. We still have
to clinch. We are I think we're the last. Are
we the last team to not clinch?
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Yet? Let's see who was all clinched? Right?
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Atlantic Division's all done, those teams have all been set.
Springfield's the final seed. For the North Division. We still
have the Syracuse Crunch, Cleveland Monsters, Toronto Marley's and Belleville
Senators who have so all yet to clinch. As well,
that division is as tight as ever, Belleville is just
four points behind Toronto, and only the top five seeds
make it in that division. Central Division all clinched with
(18:34):
Rockford getting the last seed in that game against US
but which was funny, James, going back to that what
you said earlier about the Iowa fans getting mad, Rockford
had two scenarios. It was either they got a point
against uts, which they obviously did on that Saturday game,
or in Iowa Wild loss against Manitoba, which they lost.
So I mean they they're the one two lost, And
I'm sorry if your if your records twenty seven and
(18:56):
thirty six, six and one, and you're bad that you
didn't make playoffs, like come on, but and then too
and then to us. We're the final seed to yet clinch.
So it's also coming down to a wire. A lot
of seeds are already pretty much set in stone. There's
already been a couple of first round announcements of what
who's gonna host, who's not gonna host, who's going where.
(19:16):
A lot of teams actually don't just have the straight
one team hosting all three games since its location.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
A lot of teams actually.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Split the the one and two or the two and one,
we just have to be in such a bad location, uh,
just too far from everybody, which is why we wherever
we go, we potentially have to go for for all
three games. There's still a lot to you know, to
come by with, you know of depending on who we
play and where we go. But that's just what it's
all gonna look like, and it just what makes it
(19:43):
so fun.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
Yeah. I like how the league does it where they
tailored the the divisions and the and the how the
playoffs are set up by each team, you know, by
each division, so it's not just one size, it's all
like I mean you talked about there, like the five
teams have made it in the Central but they only
have seven teams, and six teams make it from the
(20:07):
Atlantic but they only have eight teams, and five teams
like it from the North, but they only have five teams.
And obviously in the Pacific there's ten teams and some
teams make it, and then there's different situations where some
teams that buys and you know, the teams with better
records that buyest more points that buys and stuff like that.
And I was really kind of surprised that because I
knew in the Northeast when you're having like two Pennsylvania
(20:29):
teams playing that, Yeah, it makes sense that they have that.
The first round series is where you travel through the
other team. It's not just in one site like in
the Pacific for what most of the Pacific, but last
year there was a there was a series in the
Pacific Division the first round that was that was home
and home. That was two places and one on one
(20:52):
of the place. I forget who it was. It was like,
I think it's like Biggersfield, Ontario or something that you know,
two teams are kind of close, you know, where they
can travel, but Tuson has that kind of being being
further away. They have that kind of double edged short
where if they host, then they then then the other
team has to stay here for three, two or three games,
you know, but if they if they had gone the road,
(21:13):
then they have to go you know, I have to
go up there for you have to go go and
travel for the whole series. So it's kind of it's
it's situation where you get it's good if you win,
if you get that, and then but if you if
you don't get that, and this tough. So but it's
really interesting to see how that works, you know, and everything.
And going back to going back to Central Division, I
(21:34):
thought that's funny, you know, iowas record they're trying to
do that. But that was something that going into the series,
I think a lot of owners fans are expecting runners,
maybe not get sweet but at least get get a
regulation win because of you know, where Rockford was in
the standings. They're they're fifth and so technically they're ahead
of Tucson, who's the seventh, but there they're fifth and
out of seven teams, and there that their record was
(21:57):
worse than two songs in a division that's not as
good in terms of you know, I mean, we talked
about how the the Pacific is done in the in
the All Star Game against the other divisions and especially
against the their other Western Conference division in the Central
and then how they've done in the series head to
head series when how the playoff works is basically you
(22:19):
each division plays each other and then the winner of
that division plays the other team in their conference. So
Division Pacific has done really well against the their division
rivals and that in the playoff last couple years. But
you look at the record that that Pacific has against
the Central Division there thirty eight wins, twenty losses, four
(22:42):
overtime losses, to shootout losses, and then the Central Division
against the PACIFICUS twenty six, thirty three, five and zero.
So I think it's pretty clear that Specific Division is
better than the Central Division. I mean, you just look
at there's more teams, and there's teams are getting more points,
and they have a better record against the other division.
So that's a situation where if you look kind of
(23:02):
down the road, then they would play the champion of
the you know, the Pacific Division wouldlay the champion of
the Central Division. So you look at that and you
think that, yeah, it's a it's a very division tougher
kind of kind of tough situation, and you look at
how battle hard and the Pacific teams are, it's just
just brutal. For that, there's a lot of you know,
(23:23):
you talked about how how close it is in North Division.
You have Syracuse with eighty two points, Cleveland with any
one point, and Toronto with eighty points. So that's that's
a lot. Can I can change those standings in that
in those three four five and three four five seats
right there, lock lock and change right there in those
last few days. So other divisions are pretty pretty well
(23:46):
in terms of end of the season, but Pacific Vision
has that and they also have a lot of because
against the other Vision, so that's that's interesting look at.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Yeah, And in my opinion, if you have all access
to float sports, these are a lot of games to
watch with everything coming down to the line. If you
want to watch Colorado clinch on Wednesday to see if
are they gonna rest starters or not for the last
two games against US obviously the big one, Bakersfield and Abbotsford,
I'll be watching that. And there's just so much still
(24:17):
on the line for all these teams, and that's what's
so awesome, right There's two games left to go and
none of our seeds are fully determined yet, right. I mean,
Colorado might be the only one Abbotsford Wednesday, they're in
a good spot too, but there's just still so much
to happen and there's just a few games left to go,
so it's all gonna get scrunched down. It's all gonna
come down to the wire, and depending on what happens Wednesday,
(24:40):
we'll just see what we need to do on our
end to clinch the final final spot of the AHL
Specific Division playoff race. James, let's go to the games
against Rockford, and I wasn't lying early when I said
I thought we had two really good games. It was
two really good game plans against the team that haven't
seen much this season. I haven't seen much at all
(25:01):
these past few years. Lost the first game on Friday
six to three, lost the second one two to one,
got a huge point in overtime.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
It was just f it's all out tough.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
We trailed a lot in the series, saw more goals
obviously on Friday than Saturday. Just couldn't really defend the
goals too well. Rockford got a lot of turnovers, a
lot of opportunities on that Friday game. Their one regulation
goal came on a weird turnover as well. On Saturday,
we were able to tie it up and you know,
go to overtime and eventually lost two to one.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Jugglen out line still kept going.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Curtis Douglass got a huge goal, one of the biggest
goals of the season for the Roadrunners in that Saturday
game on a awesome redirection from maximum and Zuber. Zuber
now has six points in this last six games or
a six game points streak, which is the most by
a defenseman this season. Agasino became the third Roadrunner this
year to score twenty goals. Ardam dude. That kept his
(25:55):
hot streak alive. So glob got back on the score sheet.
Since welcoming his firstborn daughter into the world this past
week as well, you know, McCartney kept it going. Everyone
just kept you know, kind of their their scoring streaks
alive and honestly, Drew Cameso, the goaltender in for Rockford,
was absolutely dialed in. He was magnificent both games. You
(26:16):
gotta get credit with credits due. He was a huge
reason why they were able to win both of those games.
I mean, twos On out shot Rockford thirty three to
twenty three. On Saturday's game, we outshot them thirty eight
thirty one. I mean, you put up over thirty shots
per game and just scored four goals over the weekend.
Just shows that their goaltender was there and ready again,
loved our game plan overall, got a huge point in
(26:37):
the second game and that's all that we needed, hopefully,
and now we're just going to return home and feed
off of that home crowd again for these next two
against Colorado.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
Yeah, it was kind of weird, serious, especially if you
look just at the scores. That's one thing that you know.
Austin Pagaski started the series off great for the Runners,
scoring the first look like forty one seconds, but then
a familiar face, Acharatu scores for the part play goal
for brought Rockford and then later on Zach Sandford, another
(27:09):
guy who was on the road in his last year,
although not as long obviously as Aku, but he got
a he got an assists on there, and there was
just like a three three goals in a row that
Rockford scored in that first period, especially with what thirty
seconds apart or whatever twenty seconds apart those second and
third goals, they were truly kind of put the Runners
(27:31):
beat behind the ball, and then they scored another one.
But then the Rudners showing their kind of how they
how they operate, obviously the Tucson way, the road inner
his way that they they rally, they try and rally
and they come back and kind of tough situation then
like that where they get empty and that goal on
Rockford gets sent in a goal from from back in
the goal line. It was a bit of stretch at
(27:52):
that point because they're done by you know, Roaders down
by two point two goals, and so at that point
it's gonna be a tough comeback last minute. But it
was this crazy, crazy goal on that you know, crazy
empty night goal at the end, even for an empty
night goal. But then on on on Saturday, Runners really rebounded.
It was tough. You talked about how tough the goalie
(28:15):
was for Rockford, how the Runners just like coppered him
was shot. They outshot them by by ten shots. And
they started off Runner and started with fourteen shots against
Rockford seven. And then they shot mate the four and
third period when they're trying to get back, and then
Churs Douglas got that huge goal, which if you look
back at the end of the season for them, for hi,
(28:37):
let me get that goal and get that points. It
might have been one of the bigger goals of the season.
It was just one of those great kind of one
one of the great read rerecks where you look as like, well,
it's a it's great to have a guy that's so
taller over there over front of that like that. So
he's scored that goal and we have to talk about
how how well Dan Well did. I mean, he's a
guy who you know, obviously he played for not as
(28:59):
recently as Texas, but he played for for Rockford, so
that was cool to see him get that home coming.
It was also cool that they honored the former the
Road Uns that used to play for Rockford during the game.
They kind of gave him a little, you know, ovation
little chair. That's that's kind of cool. But Dylan was
playing really well. He he had those twenty three shots
(29:21):
against and twenty one saves and he ultimately did they
did get the overtime win. But it was really bestive
for him that he's obviously he hasn't played that much,
so for him to come in and get that big
get that big point was huge. And honestly, I mean,
this is looking way ahead, so there are still at
the clinch first, but I wonder it's it's gonna be
(29:41):
tough choice, honestly for the Road owners, Like what goal
is do you put on the roster assuming that Matt
Blocks comes back, But he hasn't played since since he's
been in Utah, so I don't know what's going on
with that. It's kind of weird. Situation because you would
think that he would get that spot to come in
and play after Utah Golimnae last week, but he still
hasn't played. So I'm assuming he's gonna play either either
tonight or either Tuesday or Wednesday night for Utah, or
(30:05):
maybe they'll come in and there will be tough situation
for him to come in for Tucson and play over
the weekend if you're not playing so much, playing such
crucial games like that, you know, maybe maybe the situation
works out well for growners where they they clinch on
Friday night and he can play on Saturday and kind
of play without the pressure of playing the season. No
season on the brink game kind of thing for that one.
(30:26):
But it's a tough situation for him because he hasn't
played that much falsa. But maybe, honestly, maybe the runners
look at putting the if they do have a make
the playoffs for the first series, having the roster be
having Stober and on Walls in there because Wallas has
been playing so wiliately.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
So James I was gonna reveal it as we got
to it on the show. I got confirmation from Adrian
Denny that Vilalta is starting tonight for the Utah Hockey Club.
So yeah, you mentioned and I was like, okay, time
to reveal it now. I was gonna reveal it later
on in this show. So Maddie is getting the nod.
It's gonna be his second career start in the NHL,
(31:04):
his third appearance overall.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
He gets to start tonight.
Speaker 3 (31:08):
And then Veggie will get the final start tomorrow as
Utah plays the Nationale Predators tonight and the Saint Louis
Blues tomorrow. So if you're listening on this broadcast, it's
a few minutes before the game, you have somehow easy
access to watch these Utah Hockey Club games. Yeah, Vlalta
gets to start tonight. We're actually have some interview bites
to play for you as well from their head coach
(31:29):
Bear Andre Turny on Matthew Blalta will play for those
for you shortly. But yeah, Maddi's getting the nod tonight,
assuming him and Yamamoto get reassigned back to the road Runners.
Because what's nice is the Utah Hockey Club season ends
on Tuesday, and they're ending off the season on a
good run. Right now, They're not gonna make the playoffs unfortunately,
but there's something to build on for next year. Right
(31:51):
that their last games on Tuesday night in Saint Louis,
you know, maybe a potential travel day back here to
Tucson for Yamamoto and Volalta, and then Thursday they're back
and ready to go. So we could be also getting
huge reinforcements. My guess is just with the severity of
the games, maybe Volalta starts Friday and Saturday, or if
(32:13):
we be able to clinch Friday, then Valalta gets a
rest day go with Stobbers Saturday. I don't know, but
we're about to have three goalies on our roster and
that's what makes it. That's just why we have so
much depth at the goalie position, right you know, Wells
and Stopber have done a good enough of a job
to get us victories and get us huge points in
the standings, while the Matthew Valofts has been called up
and we've called Maddie the locker room guy, the glue
(32:35):
to the team, which he is and he's the he's
the rock of the team as well, which is so
many guys to refer to him as. And I'm sure
Utah has been loving to have Maddie in the building
too these last couple of weeks. I mean, Valota has
been gone for a while now, right, he got called
up on.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
March twenty eighth.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
It's April fourteenth, so it's been three weeks since Volalta
has been called on, more than it's a little bit
less than three weeks, more like, you know, a little
bit less and that I would say. But you know,
regardless of that, it's still been a pretty good while
since Valalta has been called up. We haven't had him
since March twenty eighth. We've been riding with Dylan Wells
(33:11):
and Jackson Stabber. It's been fourteen games now, so yeah,
it actually has been quite a while now that you
think about it. But that's why we brought in Jackson Stobbard,
That's why we brought back Dylan Wells, That's why we
signed Valta to the two year, two way contract, to
just add that goaltending depth. And now we're potentially gonna
have all three of them on the roster, you know.
All in all, I think Maddi's your your starter for
(33:33):
the playoffs potentially, but we'll get there when we get there.
But to have him and yams back for those two
games will also be huge for the team. I think
Yamamoto's just gonna be ten times better coming back after
getting some NHL time. And I already thought he's been
having such a great season right and to start for
Valalta tonight will also get him some good NHL reps.
I'll be watching it. I'm excited to see him out there,
(33:56):
you know, repping the Utah Blue. And it's gonna be
a fun week for for both those guys as they
wrap up their NHL season and then come right back
to Tucson and try to playoffs for us.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
Yeah, it'll be interesting to see how the roster works
down and everything. You know, Kyler, when he first came
to Tucson, he just came just kind of in so intense,
so wild to see see a guy like that with
that skill set playing in the HL, because he'd been
playing in the NHL for so long that when he
first got back to the HL, he was just he's
just some man possessed just playing so well. And then
(34:28):
obviously when he came back last last week. I guess
again this technical last week because it was on Sunday.
He came back and he got those two assists to
get that big sweep against Bakersfield, So so that was huge.
So if he does come back, come back for the
end of the regular season and potentially the playoffs, that'd
be a big boost for the Runners. You know, maybe
(34:49):
soccer to be situation where they had like a ton
of guys coming over like last year. Like last year
when they had Don't come back and out there come
back and Connor Geeky joined the team. I mean he
was technically on the same because he was on the
He's a Uster paper movement and the kessel Ring come
back after playing like four games or something with the
Rowdners come back and play for Tucson. So there's not
gonna be a ton of guys coming back like that. Maybe,
(35:10):
you know, you talked about Maddie, talk about Tyler, maybe
don't come back too, But it's gouda be tough a
ton of guys, but maybe coming back and giving that boost.
But maybe it's better in terms of last year though,
those those guys who came in. Everything I heard about
those guys who don't the same last year. We're good,
good locker room guys coming in. But you know, maybe
it's just too many guys coming in, and that's kept
(35:32):
the chemistry a little bit for the Runners, because even
though you're bringing really good players, maybe just kind of
alters the room a little bit or alters how the
lines work and everything. When last year, obviously they finished
the season strong to get that two seed, and this year,
if they do make the playoffs, they would finish the
season strong. So maybe you kind of want to keep
that core that's been playing with with you guys with
(35:55):
the Rodners for so long and only have like little
have like a few a few boosts having a few players,
not as not so many as last year. Not saying
that they wouldn't they shouldn't have added so many players,
because that was a great, great move in terms of
adding so much talent, but maybe looking back, maybe did
kind of alter the team a little bit. Last year
kind of hurt a little bit. But this year I
(36:15):
think they're in a kind of better situation to add
more that's at some town like that, but add not
at too much, not to add too much to that's
trump defy because obviously mc maatt and kyl Levin played
played with the Roderns for a ton of games this year,
so maybe it's a little different dynamic this year, but
maybe that kind of helps him out a little bit.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
No, yeah, no doubt about it. And you know what's
also been great.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
It's given guys like Ryan McGregor more playing time and
he's probably solidified himself as a guy who you're gonna
play for game one of the playoffs and even played
this weekend too. If Yamamoto is back in our lineup
for those last two games, you know he's earned that role.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
He's earned that spot.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
It's given opportunity for Steve Povin to put that jugg
in our line back together. A baron Douglas and Drew.
That's been magnificent for us as well. That line has
combined gosh I want to say, for six over the
last sixteen goals in the last five games. That line
(37:16):
has contributed together and it sets the tone.
Speaker 2 (37:19):
It's a bone crushing line.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Now you see think that line's going to be mixed
in together when does playoffs start? You know it's Sam
Lipkin and doing lots have also gotten good playing time
near the end of the year. So that's what's so
great about you know, you you lose your your best player,
right Yamamoto. The points why it's the scoring. You know,
you don't have him, but it's gives him opportunity to
showcase why he belongs in ANHL. And you know, he's
(37:42):
earning that contract every game that he plays, and he's
had a good entity season for Utah and he still
has two games left to play with tonight and tomorrow.
And then it gives our guys opportunity to learn how
to adapt to without your your best player, and you
shift in lines together, guys get chemistry. We saw Ben
McCartney have a good, really good second half to the season.
(38:03):
Obviously with Sammy Walker getting the trade, he's juvenated with
the Roadrunners. Agasino back from that injury now hitting twenty
goals on the season, he's still consistently scoring. The juggernaut
piece coming back together, you know, Paganski, McGregor and he
big Uh combining for a few goals in our last
couple of games. And then with the rookies as well.
So that's what's also so great about it. It gives
(38:25):
everybody that adaptive ability and then all of a sudden,
when you've learned to play without Kylie Yamamoto, he comes
back and yeah, I might take some games to fold
him back in the mix. But I mean we saw
on that Sunday on April six against Bakersfield Yamoto came
back to play one game, got two points, and then left.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Which is still absolutely crazy.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
Now that I still say that, I'm like, Wow, what
a weird transition, right, But it just shows that Utah
cares for our playoff front.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
They want us to make the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
They want their prospects and their guys that they did
sign to stay with the organization, to stay with the affiliation,
to get you know, these huge game games in and James,
we keep saying it time and time again.
Speaker 2 (39:02):
I mean, you know, all you need to do is
just make playoffs, and.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
You just never know, right, I mean, like we've paired
up well against the Abbotsford Canucks this season, or if
we play on Taro, yeah we struggled against him.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
But the playoffs are just so much different now.
Speaker 3 (39:19):
It's just as long as you make it in because
even if you're a second seed and you've had this
amazing year, you still have to play a best of
three series, right, Every team has to go through this.
So it's just that's what makes it so fun, doesn't
matter what your record is, just make the playoffs. And
we're gonna get some nice reinforcements, hopefully on Friday and
Saturday with Volata starting tonight though with the Utah Hockey Club,
(39:42):
and it'll be exciting to see.
Speaker 4 (39:44):
Yeah, I mean, you talked about the just getting in,
but really it's so so evident in the in the
Pacific Division, because i mean, obviously Brodners. Remember I'm trying
to forget, trying to apologize for reminding you, but last
year in the world's a two seed and the guy
slept Calgary. That's a situation that you know, you look
back and you think like, well, it's rough for the Runners.
(40:07):
But it's just a situation that the league is just
so fluid with being developed developmental league. Everybodys moving up
and down everything, and they have a lot of injuries
and you have guys coming in me right from the NHL.
But you know, you talked about obviously they got that
big sweep in atmosphere all right for Christmas. But even
if they do play Ontario, they did play well on
the road. Last couple of games got them. They got
(40:27):
that big three to zero win in March and then
and then the you know before that, a few weeks
before that they got another win at Ontario. They did
get swept at home against Ontario, and that's why they
have such a not appealing you know, series season series
record against them. But they in those two games as
(40:47):
four to two losses where they get three goals in
a row. So it's it's a situation where you know,
maybe you know, the pup goes a little bit different
way than maybe they they get some points out of
that that series. I guess Ontario that mid March series
against Ontario. So it's a matchup that I don't think
the runners are gonna be scared at all about it
if you end up playing against Ontario. But I do
(41:09):
think that probably you probably want to face Abage for
just because they played so well up there and then
in that series and in that serious December and it's
a series that you obviously we talked about it, but
you remember that the playoff series are not two games
and two a scud of nights. It's a it's more
of a regular playoff series where there's rest days in between,
(41:30):
so it's not you can kind of if you do
drop the first game, you can kind of regroup and
come back and and do that, and you only need
to win two out of three instead of sweepy too.
So you know, it's a lot of different dynamics in
that first round.
Speaker 3 (41:45):
Yeah, it's it's gonna be so fun, it's gonna be
so chaotic, just so much to still happen these next
two games as.
Speaker 2 (41:51):
It's all coming down to the.
Speaker 3 (41:53):
Wire, James, And depending on what happens Wednesday, it's, uh,
it's gonna be a very crucial to games regardless of
what happens on Wednesday too, crucial two games for Tuoson
to try to go into the playoffs, just kind of
with some momentum after beating a top team in the
Pacific Division, the top team in the entire Western Conference
(42:13):
potential as well. And you think about it, James, you
make playoffs and get past the first round, you're going
to Colorado regardless for a best of five series. So
this is also a good chance to really start trying
to find ways to beat that team. Last time we
beat them was a tough road trip. We lost two
games to start off that trip, and it's just all
coming down to the line this weekend against Colorado with
(42:36):
US just a few points head up the Bakersfield Condors.
Condors play on Wednesday against Apbotsford, and depending on what
happens that game, it's either going to be you know,
having to just at least finish with tied with points
against them with them or better than them in points,
or if bakers Through loses on Wednesday, all we need
is two points to clinch the twenty twenty five called
(42:57):
Cup plays. Let's end off this interview. Interview, We're not
in interviewing each other. What are we talking about. Let's
end off this show just with another bite from Utah
head coach and j Turney on Matthew valta start tonight
and what it's been like to have him in the
locker room as Matthew Valalta. We'll be making his first
start in the National Hockey League of this season tonight
(43:17):
against Nashville. It's gonna be a second start of his
NHL career and his third appearance overall.
Speaker 5 (43:23):
So Maddie and tonight, Yeah, I me out will be
He's in and you've been around a little bit around him.
He's he's just a great kid. He has a high
tim pole. He's really positive president. So he was good
in practices, so we'll see what what it will do
(43:47):
for him tonight. But really excited. He had a great
season on there, and I think we're all pushing for.
Speaker 3 (43:52):
Him, all right, James, great show again, folks. This is
a huge next two games for your two son Roadrunners.
We have a Lazar Day two sound for the final
time this season on Friday. We have fan appreciation night
coming on Saturday. Come out, come support this team. These
guys need that. What do you call it, James, the
nineteenth man, the twentieth man on the ice, whatever you
(44:14):
want to call it. This team is feeding off the
home crowd as a reason, and they need it this
weekend for a huge two games against Colorado. We'll keep
an eye on Bakersfield on Wednesday again one last time.
If Bakersfield wins on Wednesday against the Abbotsford Canucks, then
all the Roadrunners need to do is just finished off
(44:35):
either tieth in points with them or better end points
against them. So you really need kind of two wins
to not rely on Henderson. If Abbotsford wins on Wednesday
and beats Bakersfield, all we need is two points to clinch,
whether that's two overtime losses or a single victory against
the Colorado Eagles as well. So all coming down to
the wire this weekend. The entire Pacific Division not even
(44:57):
set in stone, and we have one last week left
go of the American Hockey League twenty four twenty five season.
We'll throw things out with lights to Tucson. See you
this weekend at the Tucson Arena. Matthew Volota making his
first National Hockey League start tonight of this season as
well with the Utah Hockey Club fun week ahead.
Speaker 2 (45:17):
We'll see you all when it happens.
Speaker 3 (45:18):
As everything is coming down to the wire as the
playoff push continues for your two sons.
Speaker 6 (45:30):
Gotta see the lights to Tucson. Gotta beat one, Gotta
see the lights of two soon coming back.
Speaker 7 (45:39):
Please get it just been my little sity candid. Listen
to kid, but Tucson.
Speaker 6 (45:57):
My heart is a un like bronze and my wheels
arguer in.
Speaker 3 (46:09):
Can't we be.
Speaker 6 (46:10):
There with her I in the Cattalinas, the license to
sun shining and her Illo be Alona, We Neversona a
desert reaching the sky.
Speaker 7 (46:35):
You gotta see the lions of Tucson. I got it back.
You get a new home.
Speaker 6 (46:41):
Gotta see the lions of Tucson.
Speaker 4 (46:43):
Coming back.
Speaker 6 (46:44):
We new, get a new Bob.
Speaker 7 (46:54):
Gotta see the lights and so got back to the moon.
Get got see this. It's too sorry, really coming back?
Will you gotta be more
When you want more road Runners, We've got more road Runners.
This is the Tucson Roadrunners Insider Podcast with a voice
of the road Runners Jonathan Shaefer.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What advice do you have for me?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Drink a lot of water. It's pretty odd.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
And your new best friend, my best friend, Arizona Daily
Stars James Kelly. The guys are already talking, so let's
join up right here on your twuson Roadrunners Insider Podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
It is all coming down to the wire this weekend
at the Twoson Arena. Welcome to this week's insider podcast.
My name is Jonathan Schaeffer. Alongside me as always Arizona
Daily Stars James Kelly. It is the last two games
of the twenty four to twenty five regular season coming
up this weekend at the Tucson Arena on Friday and Saturday,
(00:48):
both games coming up against the Colorado Eagles. And this
is it, James, this is where it all comes down to.
It's uh, we'll keep an eye on Bakersfield for Wednesday. Again,
it's the Abbotsford Canucks. But you know that game is huge,
and it really is. It's gonna come down to what
the Roadrunners need to do on this Friday and Saturday
(01:10):
against the Colorado Eagles to clinch the final spot of
the AHL's Specific Division playoff race.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
We are two points ahead of the Bakersfield Condors.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Bakersfield has a game against the Abbotsford Canucks on Wednesday
that I assume all the Roadrunners will be watching, and
depending on that week, that game on that Wednesday, it's
either gonna come down to all the Roadrunners need to
do is get a win or if Bakersfield does get
a point or does win that game, we're just gonna
(01:41):
have to outmatch them. The last two games of the season,
Bakersfield has Henderson on this Friday and Saturday we have
the Colorado Eagles. Still so many hypotheticals for other teams
in this division and all coming down to the wire
now after just getting one point against the Rockford IceHogs
and two losses this past week as well, and it's exciting.
(02:02):
I think it's great that we're home through these last
two games. It's going to be huge crowds over the weekend.
It's our last last of day two song game on
Friday night fan Appreciate Night on Saturday, and one of
those games the Roadrunners can be finishing that with a
potential spot for the twenty four to twenty five Calder
Cup playoffs, which we don't even still know the first
round potential suitor for us as well, And it's going
(02:24):
to be a very very crazy week just to see
how it all ended.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Winds.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
It was another wild week for the road Ow Nurse.
It looked like it was going to be a rough
one after the those first few days, after they got
that big sleep against Bakersfield where they had that five
point lead almost evaporate and they for you know, for
almost not twenty four hours, but you know, eighteen hours whatever,
but twenty hours they had that their ability to control
(02:51):
on destiny ended when bakers Should won on Friday and
the Rudners lost on Friday and lead is one point,
but their own own nurs rebounded, they got a point,
a hard fought game against Rockford, and then Coachella Valley
helped out the Roadunds with the four to two win.
It was kind of wild game where they started off
with what was like four goals in the first period. Well,
(03:14):
this is gonna be a lot different than than their
game on a Friday, Bakersfield game on Friday, when they
won five to zero and going into that, going into
the last week, I was thinking that, you know, maybe
San Diego is gonna give them more a battle, and
you saw that. You saw that what happened in the
Condos first game last week when they beat Henderson four
to two, as kind of more was expecting, you know,
(03:35):
probably Bakersfield to win, but I'm Henderson and San Diego
teams that are at the bottom of the division kind
of fight for pride and whatever. But then on Friday,
bakers Shield came in and smacked San Diego. They won
five to zero, and so the Roaders were only leading
by at one point, but now they're back up to
two and which is kind of easier in terms of
(03:55):
because it's more obviously more often you get two points
or zero point instead at one point. So not so
the easier for the standings because the you look at
it like, well, if the the Pikersfield wins on uh
in their next game on Wednesday, they when they're playing
against Atmospherd, and then they'll then they'll catch up their
owners in terms of points, but their owners have the tiebreakers,
(04:15):
so they'll still be had. But it's so easier simpler
for that, you know, rather than mean, with the odd
number like that kind of kind of more difficult, you know.
But anyway, like we said, we've been hyping it up.
It's a big series and the in the year. It's
kind of tough for their owners in the sense that
they have to play the first place team who's you know,
battling for HOMESI Vans throughout the playoffs. It's kind of
(04:35):
a kind of gonna be kind of tough for them
in terms of right now they have three games left
and ninety two points, and Laval has ninety seven points
three games left and then leave all over in the
North Division and the Atlantic Division of Hershey has ninety
three points and three games left, and then and in
the Central Division, Milwaukee is eighty nine points, so you know,
(04:58):
probably get home miceive and for them if they continue
winning obviously in the conference finals, but for the call
to Cup finals, it'll it might be tough for them
to overcome the ball or something and if foot ball
actually makes it through there. But you know, a lot
to play for it for Colorado and obviously not a
lot to play for Henderson, who Mavisford is playing this weekend.
So after they play Avitsford, which they have a lot
(05:19):
to play for in terms of trying to get that
number two seed. Right now, they're tied in points with Ontario,
so it's a wild series, wild chase with those two teams.
Kind of big difference between playing on in Ontario and
playing in Abtsford for their Runners. If the Runners do
actually make it into the playoffs, so that two slot
would be playing the seventh slot. So if Avertsford and
(05:41):
Ontario battling out right there and then Tucson or bakers
Shoves would play them in the first round. So it's
just a lot to play for these last week, for
the last few, last few days.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Yeah, Obisford has the tie breaker over Ontario. We've been
talking about the regulation wins for US in Bakersfield, but
you got to look at these other teams too, right,
James abbots for thirty five regulation wins. Ontarioly has thirty one,
So Ontario can't even mathematically catch up to Abbotsford with
the regulation wins. With both of them only having three
games up to go on the schedule, Coachella Valley could
(06:13):
potentially still get to the second seed, they just need
Abbots for it. In the Canucks, Abbotsford and Ontario to
lose some games as well. You have Calgary and San
Jose who are still also fighting for that fourth seed
as well. So Abbits for the Ontario have at least Abbotsford,
the Colorado've already clinched hole Mie advantage, you know. For
(06:34):
Ontario they still you know, they're they're they have already
clinched home My advantage too, I guess mathematically. And so
with that being said, it's still all just kind of
flip flopping around and it's going to be insane. You know,
we can even still play Coachella Valley in the first round. Again,
Coachella Valley just needs a lot of help from you know,
both of the teams playing Abbotsford in Ontario to close
(06:57):
out the regular season. And again big game coming on Wednesday,
even for Abbits for two as they're now trying to
lock in that second seed. We're Rabbits for fans on Wednesday.
I hate to say it, but we are. We're gonna
be rooting for them because if Bakersfield does lose that
game on Wednesday, all the Roadrunners need to do against
Colorado is either just get a win or weird scenario,
(07:19):
lose both games in overtime. It just gets you enough
points because the Roadrunners have that type breaker over Bakersfield.
So essentially we're three points ahead of the Condors because
they need to get one point over us in.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
That category as well.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
We have twenty nine regulation wins, they only have twenty one,
so they're obviously not catching up to us in that
regards as well. Calgary and San Jose are battling it
out this weekend, so you know, there's no way the
Roadrunners can catch up for the six or fifth seed.
We're pretty much locked into seventh seed at this point.
But for their sake, they are still also playing for
(07:53):
a whole miice advantage, you know, to try to catch
up to Coachelle Valley Colorado. They play Ontario on Wednesday.
All they need is a point to clinch home ice
advantage in the Pacific Division. All throughout at least those
three rounds, they are well ahead enough of the Mawchie Admiral,
so Colorado has a chance to clinch home mice for
(08:13):
the entirety of the the whole Western Western side for
the playoffs. So it's gonna be very interesting for that
as well. And all Colorado needs is a point. So
there's also scenario James, where if Colorado is able to
clinch on Wednesday, they might rest their starters. We saw
Gabriel with Landeskog make some conditioning starts for the Colorado Eagles,
(08:35):
got a huge goal for them as well to tie
a game up against the Anderson Silver Knights in their
second game against them as well, and those couple of losses,
and if Landiscott plays on Wednesday, I don't think he
played those last two games.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Again, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
I don't know what Colorado's plan is, but considering if
they're able to clinch the first round, we might get
some help in that regards to, you know, maybe have
to play some of their their backups or even if
their starters play, the minutes are gonna be a lot
different as well, just kind of how we did last
year in the end of the year, when we already
knew we were kind of just locked into a home
Iice aidvantaged spot. We rested our guys near the end.
(09:11):
So it's it's gonna be fun. It's it's a next
huge two games for us. We've been fantastic at home
as of recent just coming off of a three to
one home stand.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
I think we could do this. We can.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
We gotta believe in ourselves. But that yeah, that game
against Abbotsford and Bakersfield is gonna be huge because the
Condors have Henderson the last two weeks of the last
two games of the season.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Excuse me, but I don't know what it is.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Henderson is good at playing that spoiler team, and we're
gonna be rooting for them over the weekend as well.
But yeah, there is a scenario where Bakersfield wins on
Wednesday and we both go into the final two games
of the season, both at seventy two points. Again, we
have the tiebreaker. We pretty much need to either win
a game and the Condors lose both games. We went
(09:56):
to both games straight up and we were good to go.
Or if we booth both lose two games and Bakersfield
loses too, then we're in regardless. But it's at that
point where you don't want to keep relying on so
much help.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Right, We're gonna help.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
We're gonna rely on Abbotsford for the help on Wednesday,
but after that, you don't even want to have to
rely on Henderson. You want to take control of your
own destiny. That we've been talking about all week long.
Got a huge point against Rockford on that Saturday night game,
tying it up at one apiece. It was a very
hard fought series. I thought we played two great games.
We just ran into a hot goaltender. And Rockford's just
(10:30):
good at taking advantage of their opportunities that we had
given them in those two games, and I liked their play.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
It just didn't happen.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
We got a huge point on Saturday, and we'll rely
on abbits Front on Wednesday and then hopefully all we
need is a win to get in and we do
just that.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
Well, actually you don't need to rely on Abitsford because
they do the controller on destiny. So you know they
it'd be better obviously after wins. But they have on
their magic numbers on the floor. So if they get
to two wins over this weekend road unners and they
get four points and there if they get you know,
if if they don't, if Coachell I mean if Baggers
(11:07):
fielders get will get get points, then that number changes
if they if they lose, if they don't get any points,
and that number goes on to two. And so you
know they they their runners just need to split if
if Avasford pulls off that that went over Baggersfield on
on Wednesday, So yeah, I think the Runners would be
definitely Runners, and Runners fans would be fans of Amonsford,
(11:29):
but they don't need that in terms of the Runners
have played well enough to control their own destiny and
that that's the thing that you're really we talked about
so much of sports, but it's it's it's it's it's
as important. It's something that you have the beginning of season,
but as the game's end and then more and more
in season ends, you lose that ability if your team
like San Diego or you know, You're you're looking at Iowa.
(11:52):
They were hoping Iowa fans are trashing to soon after
the game because they're like, oh man, after the game
on Friday, like oh man, you lost. You know, you're
you're you're you're hurting us, you know, And it was funny,
We're like wait what what And it was like it
was a Iowa fan and they're mad about that because
the Iowa was clinging to a playoff spot and they
ultimately got eliminated during the Rockford and Tucson games, so
(12:16):
Rockford clinched before clinch their playoff spot during the game,
so during the game on Saturday, so before they even won.
So it was kind of weird, you know, in that sense,
but you know, Tucson has earned that spot opportunity to
just they don't even to them, whatever Bigshield does doesn't
earn the matter in terms of if if they get
to sweep and then they're done. They they if they
(12:36):
sweep first place Carlile, then they're in. And if they
do sweep the first place Colorid, then they definitely deserve
the begin But they could just do not worry about
color Bakersfield. But I do think Bakersfield's gonna have a
tough task to be abas heard. And the important thing
to note about their series against Henderson is that it's
not a regular series that we're used to for Tucson
(12:56):
where it's all that Henderson or all at Bakersfield. He's
a home and home SERI. So the first game of
that one is I think it's I just I should check.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
I'm just gonna check.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
The first game is that is that Bakersfield, and then
this the night the last game on Saturday is that Henderson.
So that would kind of give a boost that you know,
seems like maybe Henderson would be obviously more likely to
win at home, especially with that travel and stuff like that.
For for Bakersfield, they still have a lot to play
for us, so you you'd have to think that Bakersfield
(13:26):
would would be the favorites at home. They do have
abast Ford at home, but again it's a it's a
it's a been a week game, so maybe not as
intense as it would be over on there for the
game on Friday, But it's a situation where, depending on perspective,
maybe the Bakersfield's favored to get that spot, even though
they're a couple of points back and they have to
(13:47):
get help from Tucson, get help from Colorado in order
to get in because that they're playing against the last
place team in the in the last series and Tucson
playing against first place team. But probably I think most
people myself included with favorite Tucson because they control Long
Destiny and they've been good at home, and they've shown
that they could they can get a split against color
(14:08):
which I think is probably what they would need. Honestly,
I think they probably I think Bakersfield probably drops that
game to Avasturd and then they get a split with Henderson,
so that would be good enough for Tucson. At Tucson,
you know, they'll only get two points out of those
that situation, so Tucson would win a tirebreaker. So it's
a situation where the Runners have that a bit, have
(14:28):
that luxury of you know, being able to win out
and not care what Big Shield does. But if they
also have the luxury to look at how Bakersfield does
and see, you know, you know, if they lose, and
it helps the Runners a lot.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
So yeah, yeah, it's a good point too, James. I mean,
regardless of happens Wednesday, you just feel like, you win
two games, you're in and if you beat the top
seed in the hl specific Division race, especially that Colorado
can clinch it on Wednesday, to not only be the
home team for the you know, next couple of or
(15:07):
the entire all rounds in the Western Conference, you still
have a chance to you know, beat that team twice
and then really earn your spots into the hl's Pacific
Division race.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
So it's going to be huge.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
It's so much still to happen, and you know, from
the first round of what it would look like if
the playoffs did start today, we'd have Abbotsford for the
first round best of three series, Ontario and San Jose
a Wood square up, and then you got Coachelle Valley
and the Calgary Wranglers as well. And then for the
Central Division it'd be Rockford versus Chicago, so that's a
(15:43):
nice little rivalry for the first best of three round.
Texas and Gred Rapids would play in the second round,
because cens there's last team in the Central Division. Second
rounds already determined at least for a couple of those teams.
Milwaukee would play the team that comes out that Chicago
and Rockford series. For the North Division, that's been an
(16:03):
absolute madhouse as well, with Belleville right in the mix
of it too. You have the Monsters and the Toronto
Marley's for the first round, and then the Syracuse Crunch
and Rochester Americans second round. Again with the less teams
in the division. The Valves already clinched that division, so
they're just gonna await the Cleveland Monsters in Toronto Marley series.
And then for the first round in the Atlantic, which
(16:24):
is also a lot different, you have Wilkes, Barry and Springfield.
You have Providence and Lehigh Valley. Lee High Valley upset
Providence last year in the first round, so that's a
nice little rematch potentially there too. And then you got
herd She and Charlotte awaiting the winners of that first
round the net in those divisions as well. So it's
kind of funny the Pacific Division that it's the only
(16:46):
division from the first round the playoffs set only has
one team that is already guaranteed you know, the first
round by and also for the second round, while all
other divisions their teams get the win. So it's always
just been such a mad house in our Pacific Division.
It's arguably the hardest division to you know, get out
(17:07):
of when it comes to.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
The playoffs as well.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
But I think that's just what makes it so fun, right,
That's what makes us such a good team, the amount
of times we continue to play these great teams in
this division. And yeah, you can, I think in my
personal opinion, it's either gonna be Ontario or Abbotsford for
that first round. Of course, at least we want Colorado
to get a point. It's either your going to sunny
California or just whatever the weather's like in Abbotsford. But
(17:32):
it's longer trip for twoson regardless, and all of regardless,
we have to fly wherever. It's not just an easy
bus ride wherever we are. And in for Abbitsford, it's
like we've matched up against them well, right, we've beaten
them in two games at their home barn, So you
know you take that. Do you want to go all
the way to Canada to play a team that you've
had success against we beat them in the season series too,
(17:52):
or do you want to go to a team that's
much closer but a team that we've also really struggled
against this year as well?
Speaker 2 (17:58):
And again it's playoffs.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Things change, Mentality changes, especially for us having that underdog mentality.
And of course that's just all hypotheticals. We still have
to clinch. We are I think we're the last. Are
we the last team to not clinch?
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Yet? Let's see who was all clinched? Right?
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Atlantic Division's all done, those teams have all been set.
Springfield's the final seed. For the North Division. We still
have the Syracuse Crunch, Cleveland Monsters, Toronto Marley's and Belleville
Senators who have so all yet to clinch. As well,
that division is as tight as ever, Belleville is just
four points behind Toronto, and only the top five seeds
make it in that division. Central Division all clinched with
(18:34):
Rockford getting the last seed in that game against US
but which was funny, James, going back to that what
you said earlier about the Iowa fans getting mad, Rockford
had two scenarios. It was either they got a point
against uts, which they obviously did on that Saturday game,
or in Iowa Wild loss against Manitoba, which they lost.
So I mean they they're the one two lost, And
I'm sorry if your if your records twenty seven and
(18:56):
thirty six, six and one, and you're bad that you
didn't make playoffs, like come on, but and then too
and then to us. We're the final seed to yet clinch.
So it's also coming down to a wire. A lot
of seeds are already pretty much set in stone. There's
already been a couple of first round announcements of what
who's gonna host, who's not gonna host, who's going where.
(19:16):
A lot of teams actually don't just have the straight
one team hosting all three games since its location.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
A lot of teams actually.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Split the the one and two or the two and one,
we just have to be in such a bad location, uh,
just too far from everybody, which is why we wherever
we go, we potentially have to go for for all
three games. There's still a lot to you know, to
come by with, you know of depending on who we
play and where we go. But that's just what it's
all gonna look like, and it just what makes it
(19:43):
so fun.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
Yeah. I like how the league does it where they
tailored the the divisions and the and the how the
playoffs are set up by each team, you know, by
each division, so it's not just one size, it's all
like I mean you talked about there, like the five
teams have made it in the Central but they only
have seven teams, and six teams make it from the
(20:07):
Atlantic but they only have eight teams, and five teams
like it from the North, but they only have five teams.
And obviously in the Pacific there's ten teams and some
teams make it, and then there's different situations where some
teams that buys and you know, the teams with better
records that buyest more points that buys and stuff like that.
And I was really kind of surprised that because I
knew in the Northeast when you're having like two Pennsylvania
(20:29):
teams playing that, Yeah, it makes sense that they have that.
The first round series is where you travel through the
other team. It's not just in one site like in
the Pacific for what most of the Pacific, but last
year there was a there was a series in the
Pacific Division the first round that was that was home
and home. That was two places and one on one
(20:52):
of the place. I forget who it was. It was like,
I think it's like Biggersfield, Ontario or something that you know,
two teams are kind of close, you know, where they
can travel, but Tuson has that kind of being being
further away. They have that kind of double edged short
where if they host, then they then then the other
team has to stay here for three, two or three games,
you know, but if they if they had gone the road,
(21:13):
then they have to go you know, I have to
go up there for you have to go go and
travel for the whole series. So it's kind of it's
it's situation where you get it's good if you win,
if you get that, and then but if you if
you don't get that, and this tough. So but it's
really interesting to see how that works, you know, and everything.
And going back to going back to Central Division, I
(21:34):
thought that's funny, you know, iowas record they're trying to
do that. But that was something that going into the series,
I think a lot of owners fans are expecting runners,
maybe not get sweet but at least get get a
regulation win because of you know, where Rockford was in
the standings. They're they're fifth and so technically they're ahead
of Tucson, who's the seventh, but there they're fifth and
out of seven teams, and there that their record was
(21:57):
worse than two songs in a division that's not as
good in terms of you know, I mean, we talked
about how the the Pacific is done in the in
the All Star Game against the other divisions and especially
against the their other Western Conference division in the Central
and then how they've done in the series head to
head series when how the playoff works is basically you
(22:19):
each division plays each other and then the winner of
that division plays the other team in their conference. So
Division Pacific has done really well against the their division
rivals and that in the playoff last couple years. But
you look at the record that that Pacific has against
the Central Division there thirty eight wins, twenty losses, four
(22:42):
overtime losses, to shootout losses, and then the Central Division
against the PACIFICUS twenty six, thirty three, five and zero.
So I think it's pretty clear that Specific Division is
better than the Central Division. I mean, you just look
at there's more teams, and there's teams are getting more points,
and they have a better record against the other division.
So that's a situation where if you look kind of
(23:02):
down the road, then they would play the champion of
the you know, the Pacific Division wouldlay the champion of
the Central Division. So you look at that and you
think that, yeah, it's a it's a very division tougher
kind of kind of tough situation, and you look at
how battle hard and the Pacific teams are, it's just
just brutal. For that, there's a lot of you know,
(23:23):
you talked about how how close it is in North Division.
You have Syracuse with eighty two points, Cleveland with any
one point, and Toronto with eighty points. So that's that's
a lot. Can I can change those standings in that
in those three four five and three four five seats
right there, lock lock and change right there in those
last few days. So other divisions are pretty pretty well
(23:46):
in terms of end of the season, but Pacific Vision
has that and they also have a lot of because
against the other Vision, so that's that's interesting look at.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Yeah, And in my opinion, if you have all access
to float sports, these are a lot of games to
watch with everything coming down to the line. If you
want to watch Colorado clinch on Wednesday to see if
are they gonna rest starters or not for the last
two games against US obviously the big one, Bakersfield and Abbotsford,
I'll be watching that. And there's just so much still
(24:17):
on the line for all these teams, and that's what's
so awesome, right There's two games left to go and
none of our seeds are fully determined yet, right. I mean,
Colorado might be the only one Abbotsford Wednesday, they're in
a good spot too, but there's just still so much
to happen and there's just a few games left to go,
so it's all gonna get scrunched down. It's all gonna
come down to the wire, and depending on what happens Wednesday,
(24:40):
we'll just see what we need to do on our
end to clinch the final final spot of the AHL
Specific Division playoff race. James, let's go to the games
against Rockford, and I wasn't lying early when I said
I thought we had two really good games. It was
two really good game plans against the team that haven't
seen much this season. I haven't seen much at all
(25:01):
these past few years. Lost the first game on Friday
six to three, lost the second one two to one,
got a huge point in overtime.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
It was just f it's all out tough.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
We trailed a lot in the series, saw more goals
obviously on Friday than Saturday. Just couldn't really defend the
goals too well. Rockford got a lot of turnovers, a
lot of opportunities on that Friday game. Their one regulation
goal came on a weird turnover as well. On Saturday,
we were able to tie it up and you know,
go to overtime and eventually lost two to one.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Jugglen out line still kept going.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Curtis Douglass got a huge goal, one of the biggest
goals of the season for the Roadrunners in that Saturday
game on a awesome redirection from maximum and Zuber. Zuber
now has six points in this last six games or
a six game points streak, which is the most by
a defenseman this season. Agasino became the third Roadrunner this
year to score twenty goals. Ardam dude. That kept his
(25:55):
hot streak alive. So glob got back on the score sheet.
Since welcoming his firstborn daughter into the world this past
week as well, you know, McCartney kept it going. Everyone
just kept you know, kind of their their scoring streaks
alive and honestly, Drew Cameso, the goaltender in for Rockford,
was absolutely dialed in. He was magnificent both games. You
(26:16):
gotta get credit with credits due. He was a huge
reason why they were able to win both of those games.
I mean, twos On out shot Rockford thirty three to
twenty three. On Saturday's game, we outshot them thirty eight
thirty one. I mean, you put up over thirty shots
per game and just scored four goals over the weekend.
Just shows that their goaltender was there and ready again,
loved our game plan overall, got a huge point in
(26:37):
the second game and that's all that we needed, hopefully,
and now we're just going to return home and feed
off of that home crowd again for these next two
against Colorado.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
Yeah, it was kind of weird, serious, especially if you
look just at the scores. That's one thing that you know.
Austin Pagaski started the series off great for the Runners,
scoring the first look like forty one seconds, but then
a familiar face, Acharatu scores for the part play goal
for brought Rockford and then later on Zach Sandford, another
(27:09):
guy who was on the road in his last year,
although not as long obviously as Aku, but he got
a he got an assists on there, and there was
just like a three three goals in a row that
Rockford scored in that first period, especially with what thirty
seconds apart or whatever twenty seconds apart those second and
third goals, they were truly kind of put the Runners
(27:31):
beat behind the ball, and then they scored another one.
But then the Rudners showing their kind of how they
how they operate, obviously the Tucson way, the road inner
his way that they they rally, they try and rally
and they come back and kind of tough situation then
like that where they get empty and that goal on
Rockford gets sent in a goal from from back in
the goal line. It was a bit of stretch at
(27:52):
that point because they're done by you know, Roaders down
by two point two goals, and so at that point
it's gonna be a tough comeback last minute. But it
was this crazy, crazy goal on that you know, crazy
empty night goal at the end, even for an empty
night goal. But then on on on Saturday, Runners really rebounded.
It was tough. You talked about how tough the goalie
(28:15):
was for Rockford, how the Runners just like coppered him
was shot. They outshot them by by ten shots. And
they started off Runner and started with fourteen shots against
Rockford seven. And then they shot mate the four and
third period when they're trying to get back, and then
Churs Douglas got that huge goal, which if you look
back at the end of the season for them, for hi,
(28:37):
let me get that goal and get that points. It
might have been one of the bigger goals of the season.
It was just one of those great kind of one
one of the great read rerecks where you look as like, well,
it's a it's great to have a guy that's so
taller over there over front of that like that. So
he's scored that goal and we have to talk about
how how well Dan Well did. I mean, he's a
guy who you know, obviously he played for not as
(28:59):
recently as Texas, but he played for for Rockford, so
that was cool to see him get that home coming.
It was also cool that they honored the former the
Road Uns that used to play for Rockford during the game.
They kind of gave him a little, you know, ovation
little chair. That's that's kind of cool. But Dylan was
playing really well. He he had those twenty three shots
(29:21):
against and twenty one saves and he ultimately did they
did get the overtime win. But it was really bestive
for him that he's obviously he hasn't played that much,
so for him to come in and get that big
get that big point was huge. And honestly, I mean,
this is looking way ahead, so there are still at
the clinch first, but I wonder it's it's gonna be
(29:41):
tough choice, honestly for the Road owners, Like what goal
is do you put on the roster assuming that Matt
Blocks comes back, But he hasn't played since since he's
been in Utah, so I don't know what's going on
with that. It's kind of weird. Situation because you would
think that he would get that spot to come in
and play after Utah Golimnae last week, but he still
hasn't played. So I'm assuming he's gonna play either either
tonight or either Tuesday or Wednesday night for Utah, or
(30:05):
maybe they'll come in and there will be tough situation
for him to come in for Tucson and play over
the weekend if you're not playing so much, playing such
crucial games like that, you know, maybe maybe the situation
works out well for growners where they they clinch on
Friday night and he can play on Saturday and kind
of play without the pressure of playing the season. No
season on the brink game kind of thing for that one.
(30:26):
But it's a tough situation for him because he hasn't
played that much falsa. But maybe, honestly, maybe the runners
look at putting the if they do have a make
the playoffs for the first series, having the roster be
having Stober and on Walls in there because Wallas has
been playing so wiliately.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
So James I was gonna reveal it as we got
to it on the show. I got confirmation from Adrian
Denny that Vilalta is starting tonight for the Utah Hockey Club.
So yeah, you mentioned and I was like, okay, time
to reveal it now. I was gonna reveal it later
on in this show. So Maddie is getting the nod.
It's gonna be his second career start in the NHL,
(31:04):
his third appearance overall.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
He gets to start tonight.
Speaker 3 (31:08):
And then Veggie will get the final start tomorrow as
Utah plays the Nationale Predators tonight and the Saint Louis
Blues tomorrow. So if you're listening on this broadcast, it's
a few minutes before the game, you have somehow easy
access to watch these Utah Hockey Club games. Yeah, Vlalta
gets to start tonight. We're actually have some interview bites
to play for you as well from their head coach
(31:29):
Bear Andre Turny on Matthew Blalta will play for those
for you shortly. But yeah, Maddi's getting the nod tonight,
assuming him and Yamamoto get reassigned back to the road Runners.
Because what's nice is the Utah Hockey Club season ends
on Tuesday, and they're ending off the season on a
good run. Right now, They're not gonna make the playoffs unfortunately,
but there's something to build on for next year. Right
(31:51):
that their last games on Tuesday night in Saint Louis,
you know, maybe a potential travel day back here to
Tucson for Yamamoto and Volalta, and then Thursday they're back
and ready to go. So we could be also getting
huge reinforcements. My guess is just with the severity of
the games, maybe Volalta starts Friday and Saturday, or if
(32:13):
we be able to clinch Friday, then Valalta gets a
rest day go with Stobbers Saturday. I don't know, but
we're about to have three goalies on our roster and
that's what makes it. That's just why we have so
much depth at the goalie position, right you know, Wells
and Stopber have done a good enough of a job
to get us victories and get us huge points in
the standings, while the Matthew Valofts has been called up
and we've called Maddie the locker room guy, the glue
(32:35):
to the team, which he is and he's the he's
the rock of the team as well, which is so
many guys to refer to him as. And I'm sure
Utah has been loving to have Maddie in the building
too these last couple of weeks. I mean, Valota has
been gone for a while now, right, he got called
up on.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
March twenty eighth.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
It's April fourteenth, so it's been three weeks since Volalta
has been called on, more than it's a little bit
less than three weeks, more like, you know, a little
bit less and that I would say. But you know,
regardless of that, it's still been a pretty good while
since Valalta has been called up. We haven't had him
since March twenty eighth. We've been riding with Dylan Wells
(33:11):
and Jackson Stabber. It's been fourteen games now, so yeah,
it actually has been quite a while now that you
think about it. But that's why we brought in Jackson Stobbard,
That's why we brought back Dylan Wells, That's why we
signed Valta to the two year, two way contract, to
just add that goaltending depth. And now we're potentially gonna
have all three of them on the roster, you know.
All in all, I think Maddi's your your starter for
(33:33):
the playoffs potentially, but we'll get there when we get there.
But to have him and yams back for those two
games will also be huge for the team. I think
Yamamoto's just gonna be ten times better coming back after
getting some NHL time. And I already thought he's been
having such a great season right and to start for
Valalta tonight will also get him some good NHL reps.
I'll be watching it. I'm excited to see him out there,
(33:56):
you know, repping the Utah Blue. And it's gonna be
a fun week for for both those guys as they
wrap up their NHL season and then come right back
to Tucson and try to playoffs for us.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
Yeah, it'll be interesting to see how the roster works
down and everything. You know, Kyler, when he first came
to Tucson, he just came just kind of in so intense,
so wild to see see a guy like that with
that skill set playing in the HL, because he'd been
playing in the NHL for so long that when he
first got back to the HL, he was just he's
just some man possessed just playing so well. And then
(34:28):
obviously when he came back last last week. I guess
again this technical last week because it was on Sunday.
He came back and he got those two assists to
get that big sweep against Bakersfield, So so that was huge.
So if he does come back, come back for the
end of the regular season and potentially the playoffs, that'd
be a big boost for the Runners. You know, maybe
(34:49):
soccer to be situation where they had like a ton
of guys coming over like last year. Like last year
when they had Don't come back and out there come
back and Connor Geeky joined the team. I mean he
was technically on the same because he was on the
He's a Uster paper movement and the kessel Ring come
back after playing like four games or something with the
Rowdners come back and play for Tucson. So there's not
gonna be a ton of guys coming back like that. Maybe,
(35:10):
you know, you talked about Maddie, talk about Tyler, maybe
don't come back too, But it's gouda be tough a
ton of guys, but maybe coming back and giving that boost.
But maybe it's better in terms of last year though,
those those guys who came in. Everything I heard about
those guys who don't the same last year. We're good,
good locker room guys coming in. But you know, maybe
it's just too many guys coming in, and that's kept
(35:32):
the chemistry a little bit for the Runners, because even
though you're bringing really good players, maybe just kind of
alters the room a little bit or alters how the
lines work and everything. When last year, obviously they finished
the season strong to get that two seed, and this year,
if they do make the playoffs, they would finish the
season strong. So maybe you kind of want to keep
that core that's been playing with with you guys with
(35:55):
the Rodners for so long and only have like little
have like a few a few boosts having a few players,
not as not so many as last year. Not saying
that they wouldn't they shouldn't have added so many players,
because that was a great, great move in terms of
adding so much talent, but maybe looking back, maybe did
kind of alter the team a little bit. Last year
kind of hurt a little bit. But this year I
(36:15):
think they're in a kind of better situation to add
more that's at some town like that, but add not
at too much, not to add too much to that's
trump defy because obviously mc maatt and kyl Levin played
played with the Roderns for a ton of games this year,
so maybe it's a little different dynamic this year, but
maybe that kind of helps him out a little bit.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
No, yeah, no doubt about it. And you know what's
also been great.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
It's given guys like Ryan McGregor more playing time and
he's probably solidified himself as a guy who you're gonna
play for game one of the playoffs and even played
this weekend too. If Yamamoto is back in our lineup
for those last two games, you know he's earned that role.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
He's earned that spot.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
It's given opportunity for Steve Povin to put that jugg
in our line back together. A baron Douglas and Drew.
That's been magnificent for us as well. That line has
combined gosh I want to say, for six over the
last sixteen goals in the last five games. That line
(37:16):
has contributed together and it sets the tone.
Speaker 2 (37:19):
It's a bone crushing line.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Now you see think that line's going to be mixed
in together when does playoffs start? You know it's Sam
Lipkin and doing lots have also gotten good playing time
near the end of the year. So that's what's so
great about you know, you you lose your your best player,
right Yamamoto. The points why it's the scoring. You know,
you don't have him, but it's gives him opportunity to
showcase why he belongs in ANHL. And you know, he's
(37:42):
earning that contract every game that he plays, and he's
had a good entity season for Utah and he still
has two games left to play with tonight and tomorrow.
And then it gives our guys opportunity to learn how
to adapt to without your your best player, and you
shift in lines together, guys get chemistry. We saw Ben
McCartney have a good, really good second half to the season.
(38:03):
Obviously with Sammy Walker getting the trade, he's juvenated with
the Roadrunners. Agasino back from that injury now hitting twenty
goals on the season, he's still consistently scoring. The juggernaut
piece coming back together, you know, Paganski, McGregor and he
big Uh combining for a few goals in our last
couple of games. And then with the rookies as well.
So that's what's also so great about it. It gives
(38:25):
everybody that adaptive ability and then all of a sudden,
when you've learned to play without Kylie Yamamoto, he comes
back and yeah, I might take some games to fold
him back in the mix. But I mean we saw
on that Sunday on April six against Bakersfield Yamoto came
back to play one game, got two points, and then left.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Which is still absolutely crazy.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
Now that I still say that, I'm like, Wow, what
a weird transition, right, But it just shows that Utah
cares for our playoff front.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
They want us to make the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
They want their prospects and their guys that they did
sign to stay with the organization, to stay with the affiliation,
to get you know, these huge game games in and James,
we keep saying it time and time again.
Speaker 2 (39:02):
I mean, you know, all you need to do is
just make playoffs, and.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
You just never know, right, I mean, like we've paired
up well against the Abbotsford Canucks this season, or if
we play on Taro, yeah we struggled against him.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
But the playoffs are just so much different now.
Speaker 3 (39:19):
It's just as long as you make it in because
even if you're a second seed and you've had this
amazing year, you still have to play a best of
three series, right, Every team has to go through this.
So it's just that's what makes it so fun, doesn't
matter what your record is, just make the playoffs. And
we're gonna get some nice reinforcements, hopefully on Friday and
Saturday with Volata starting tonight though with the Utah Hockey Club,
(39:42):
and it'll be exciting to see.
Speaker 4 (39:44):
Yeah, I mean, you talked about the just getting in,
but really it's so so evident in the in the
Pacific Division, because i mean, obviously Brodners. Remember I'm trying
to forget, trying to apologize for reminding you, but last
year in the world's a two seed and the guy
slept Calgary. That's a situation that you know, you look
back and you think like, well, it's rough for the Runners.
(40:07):
But it's just a situation that the league is just
so fluid with being developed developmental league. Everybodys moving up
and down everything, and they have a lot of injuries
and you have guys coming in me right from the NHL.
But you know, you talked about obviously they got that
big sweep in atmosphere all right for Christmas. But even
if they do play Ontario, they did play well on
the road. Last couple of games got them. They got
(40:27):
that big three to zero win in March and then
and then the you know before that, a few weeks
before that they got another win at Ontario. They did
get swept at home against Ontario, and that's why they
have such a not appealing you know, series season series
record against them. But they in those two games as
(40:47):
four to two losses where they get three goals in
a row. So it's it's a situation where you know,
maybe you know, the pup goes a little bit different
way than maybe they they get some points out of
that that series. I guess Ontario that mid March series
against Ontario. So it's a matchup that I don't think
the runners are gonna be scared at all about it
if you end up playing against Ontario. But I do
(41:09):
think that probably you probably want to face Abage for
just because they played so well up there and then
in that series and in that serious December and it's
a series that you obviously we talked about it, but
you remember that the playoff series are not two games
and two a scud of nights. It's a it's more
of a regular playoff series where there's rest days in between,
(41:30):
so it's not you can kind of if you do
drop the first game, you can kind of regroup and
come back and and do that, and you only need
to win two out of three instead of sweepy too.
So you know, it's a lot of different dynamics in
that first round.
Speaker 3 (41:45):
Yeah, it's it's gonna be so fun, it's gonna be
so chaotic, just so much to still happen these next
two games as.
Speaker 2 (41:51):
It's all coming down to the.
Speaker 3 (41:53):
Wire, James, And depending on what happens Wednesday, it's, uh,
it's gonna be a very crucial to games regardless of
what happens on Wednesday too, crucial two games for Tuoson
to try to go into the playoffs, just kind of
with some momentum after beating a top team in the
Pacific Division, the top team in the entire Western Conference
(42:13):
potential as well. And you think about it, James, you
make playoffs and get past the first round, you're going
to Colorado regardless for a best of five series. So
this is also a good chance to really start trying
to find ways to beat that team. Last time we
beat them was a tough road trip. We lost two
games to start off that trip, and it's just all
coming down to the line this weekend against Colorado with
(42:36):
US just a few points head up the Bakersfield Condors.
Condors play on Wednesday against Apbotsford, and depending on what
happens that game, it's either going to be you know,
having to just at least finish with tied with points
against them with them or better than them in points,
or if bakers Through loses on Wednesday, all we need
is two points to clinch the twenty twenty five called
(42:57):
Cup plays. Let's end off this interview. Interview, We're not
in interviewing each other. What are we talking about. Let's
end off this show just with another bite from Utah
head coach and j Turney on Matthew valta start tonight
and what it's been like to have him in the
locker room as Matthew Valalta. We'll be making his first
start in the National Hockey League of this season tonight
(43:17):
against Nashville. It's gonna be a second start of his
NHL career and his third appearance overall.
Speaker 5 (43:23):
So Maddie and tonight, Yeah, I me out will be
He's in and you've been around a little bit around him.
He's he's just a great kid. He has a high
tim pole. He's really positive president. So he was good
in practices, so we'll see what what it will do
(43:47):
for him tonight. But really excited. He had a great
season on there, and I think we're all pushing for.
Speaker 3 (43:52):
Him, all right, James, great show again, folks. This is
a huge next two games for your two son Roadrunners.
We have a Lazar Day two sound for the final
time this season on Friday. We have fan appreciation night
coming on Saturday. Come out, come support this team. These
guys need that. What do you call it, James, the
nineteenth man, the twentieth man on the ice, whatever you
(44:14):
want to call it. This team is feeding off the
home crowd as a reason, and they need it this
weekend for a huge two games against Colorado. We'll keep
an eye on Bakersfield on Wednesday again one last time.
If Bakersfield wins on Wednesday against the Abbotsford Canucks, then
all the Roadrunners need to do is just finished off
(44:35):
either tieth in points with them or better end points
against them. So you really need kind of two wins
to not rely on Henderson. If Abbotsford wins on Wednesday
and beats Bakersfield, all we need is two points to clinch,
whether that's two overtime losses or a single victory against
the Colorado Eagles as well. So all coming down to
the wire this weekend. The entire Pacific Division not even
(44:57):
set in stone, and we have one last week left
go of the American Hockey League twenty four twenty five season.
We'll throw things out with lights to Tucson. See you
this weekend at the Tucson Arena. Matthew Volota making his
first National Hockey League start tonight of this season as
well with the Utah Hockey Club fun week ahead.
Speaker 2 (45:17):
We'll see you all when it happens.
Speaker 3 (45:18):
As everything is coming down to the wire as the
playoff push continues for your two sons.
Speaker 6 (45:30):
Gotta see the lights to Tucson. Gotta beat one, Gotta
see the lights of two soon coming back.
Speaker 7 (45:39):
Please get it just been my little sity candid. Listen
to kid, but Tucson.
Speaker 6 (45:57):
My heart is a un like bronze and my wheels
arguer in.
Speaker 3 (46:09):
Can't we be.
Speaker 6 (46:10):
There with her I in the Cattalinas, the license to
sun shining and her Illo be Alona, We Neversona a
desert reaching the sky.
Speaker 7 (46:35):
You gotta see the lions of Tucson. I got it back.
You get a new home.
Speaker 6 (46:41):
Gotta see the lions of Tucson.
Speaker 4 (46:43):
Coming back.
Speaker 6 (46:44):
We new, get a new Bob.
Speaker 7 (46:54):
Gotta see the lights and so got back to the moon.
Get got see this. It's too sorry, really coming back?
Will you gotta be more
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