The Texas RoadRunners closed out the regular season with a three game sweep of the El Paso Rhinos this past weekend. The Runners finished the season with a lock on first place in the South Division of the NA3HL with 73 points three points ahead of the second place Texas Brahmas.
Game 1 Recap:
El Paso 0 @ Texas RoadRunners 2: The Texas RoadRunners shutout the El Paso Rhinos in a 2-0 score after scoring a goal in the first and third period. Noah Easterson got the RoadRunners on the board in the first period on the power-play for a 1-0 score. Early in the third period, Tyler Love netted his 34th goal of the year to seal the win for Texas, 2-0. Hunter Hein posted a 25 shot shutout win.
Game 2 Recap:
El Paso 1 @ Texas RoadRunners 8: The Texas RoadRunners dominated the El Paso Rhinos in an 8-1 game, which clinched the South Division regular season crown for the RoadRunners. The RoadRunners scored four goals in the first period with Adrian Sanchez and Eitan Geralnik both scoring twice and El Paso with Bryan Wood scoring. In the second, Eitan Geralnik netted his third of the game for a 5-1 lead. In the third, Matvey Ivanov scored twice and Adrian Sanchez scored his third for a 8-1 final. Hunter Hein was near perfect in net after stopping 17 shots.
Game 3 Recap:
El Paso 2 @ TX RoadRunners 8 – Eitan Geralnik scored four goals and added an assist as the RoadRunners beat the Rhinos, 8-2 to complete a three-game weekend sweep. Texas jumped out to a 3-0 lead on goals from Geralnik, Kyle Portlock, and TJ Lipsky. El Paso tied to make a game of things with a pair of goals from Zachary Ware, but the RoadRunners would pull away thanks to three more goals from Geralnik and others from Matvey Ivanov and Adrian Sanchez. Nash Wilson made 21 saves in the win.
The RoadRunners are now preparing to host the number four seed in the South this week. The New Mexico Ice Wolves will come to town Thursday and Friday this week for games one and two of the best of three series. Both games will be a 6:15 PM CST puck drop @ Spirit Ice Arena in Bryan / College Station. Game three if necessary will be held in Albuquerque NM on Sunday afternoon @ 4 PM MT
“The guys have been playing well over the past six games after a slide in NM late in February. We seem to be clicking pretty good now over the past few weeks and the guys are eager to get going with the playoffs. We have a game by game mentality at this point and the guys are holding themselves responsible as individuals and playing for each other with one common goal.” states Head Coach Mike Beavis
The Runners are not looking past anyone at this point and are content with preparing for each game, one at a time with the focus of playing to their full potential and showing the entire league that they are legit.