Recreation #55: Tucson Roadrunners (2) @ Bakersfield Condors (3) – TucsonRoadrunners.com

Roadrunners Recap: 3/8/2025
Recreation #55: Tucson Roadrunners (2) at Bakersfield Condors (3)
SOG: TUC (31) – BAK (45)
PP: TUC (1/3) – BAK (2/6)
BAKERSFIELD SCORING: Connor Corcoran (1), Derek Ryan (3), Matthew Savoie (16) 
TUCSON SCORING: Sammy Walker (6), Andrew Agozzino (14)
Roadrunners’ Comeback Falls Quick in 3-2 Loss to Condors
Bakersfield, CA – The Tucson Roadrunners (27-23-3-2) almost accomplished a multi-goal comeback Saturday night time however fell simply brief in a 3-2 loss to the Bakersfield Condors (24-20-6-3) at Mechanics Financial institution Area. Tucson erased a three-goal deficit with two unanswered targets however ran out of time earlier than discovering the equalizer.
After a scoreless first interval, Bakersfield struck early within the second when Connor Corcoran opened the scoring. Derek Ryan doubled the Condors’ lead halfway by the body, and Matthew Savoie made it 3-0 with 4 minutes left within the interval.
The Roadrunners responded late within the second, as Sammy Walker put Tucson on the board to chop the deficit to 2 heading into the ultimate body. Andrew Agozzino pulled Tucson inside one halfway by the third to gasoline a late push. The Roadrunners threw every part on the Condors within the last 10 minutes however had been unable to internet the tying objective.
Goaltender Matthew Villalta made a season-high 42 saves to maintain Tucson within the recreation. It’s the second time Villalta has made 42 saves in a recreation this season and first since Jan. 10 at San Diego.
The loss snapped each Villalta’s three-game successful streak and Tucson’s season-high six-game level streak. The Roadrunners completed their street journey with a 2-1 report and stay in a powerful place within the Pacific Division standings. They maintain the division’s last playoff spot in seventh place with 59 factors, two forward of eighth-place Bakersfield and two behind sixth-place Abbotsford, who defeated San Jose 5-4 in additional time on Saturday.
YA GOTTA SEE IT
Walker discovered the again of the online late within the second interval to spark Tucson’s comeback effort. His objective capped a three-point weekend following a two-assist efficiency on Friday. The 24-year-old has seven factors (1G, 6A) in his final six video games and 13 factors (4G, 9A) in 14 video games since becoming a member of the Roadrunners in early February. The Edina, Minnesota, native has additionally been a key contributor on the facility play, rating sixth on the workforce with eight power-play factors (3G, 5A).
Assistant captain Ben McCartney has additionally been on a tear and continued that pattern Saturday. He arrange Walker’s power-play objective for his first help and third level of the weekend collection. The fifth-year professional now has six factors (3G, 3A) in his final seven video games, his greatest seven-game stretch of the season. McCartney has been notably efficient on the facility play, contributing two factors on the person benefit within the collection. He ranks fifth on the workforce in power-play factors with 9 (5G, 4A). Saturday’s help additionally marked the 99th level of his profession.
DON’T OVERLOOK IT
Agozzino delivered one other clutch objective halfway by the third interval to chop Tucson’s deficit to at least one. The tally was his third within the final 4 video games and prolonged his level streak to 4 video games.
Since returning on Feb. 22 in opposition to Abbotsford from an damage that sidelined him for 15 video games over almost six weeks, Agozzino has recorded 4 targets in his first seven video games again. Regardless of the missed time, the veteran ahead ranks fourth on the workforce in factors (30) and targets (14). He additionally sits third in factors per recreation (.79), trailing solely Cameron Hebig and Kailer Yamamoto.
THEY SAID IT
“Each win is large and it’s playoff hockey proper now. That’s a very good workforce (Bakersfield) and so they had a solution from their loss yesterday. We simply should maintain shifting and take it one recreation at a time to attempt to get some wins right here.”
THE RUNDOWN
FIRST PERIOD
Tucson generated the primary scoring likelihood of the night time 4 minutes in when Max Szuber fed Hebig within the slot from the purpose. Hebig snapped a fast shot on objective, however Condors netminder Olivier Rodrigue made the save to maintain the sport scoreless.
Each groups performed inside their construction early and maintained a powerful tempo by the primary six minutes with out a stoppage. The primary break in motion got here when Maveric Lamoureux was whistled for holding, sending Bakersfield to the facility play. Nevertheless, the Condors’ man benefit was short-lived as James Hamblin was referred to as for a faceoff violation, main to 2 minutes of four-on-four hockey. Neither workforce may capitalize on the additional house, as each defenses saved scoring probabilities to the surface.
Tucson had a chance to interrupt by on its first energy play when Rodrigue was referred to as for delay of recreation with six minutes remaining. The Roadrunners almost transformed on a three-on-two rush as Ben McCartney arrange Egor Sokolov, who fed Walker down low for a one-timer. However Walker couldn’t management the cross, and his momentum carried him into Rodrigue, leading to an interference penalty that nullified the facility play and despatched Bakersfield to its first full man benefit with 4:20 left.
Tucson’s penalty kill was examined once more late within the interval when Hunter Drew was assessed a roughing minor with 1:19 remaining after battling for a free rebound in entrance. The Roadrunners stood robust defensively by holding the Condors to the perimeter, and each groups headed into the intermission tied up 0-0.
SECOND PERIOD
The Roadrunners opened the interval shorthanded however killed off the remaining 41 seconds of Drew’s penalty because of Villalta’s robust play between the pipes. He continued to face tall and made a point-blank glove save on Alex Swetlikoff’s wrister from the low slot three minutes in to maintain the sport scoreless.
Simply over a minute later, Tucson was again on the penalty kill after defenseman Montana Onyebuchi was referred to as for boarding. Bakersfield took benefit and scored on their third energy play of the night time. Off the following faceoff, Corcoran fired a one-timer from the left level and beat Villalta blocker aspect to place the Condors forward 1-0 at 4:27.
Bakersfield appeared to double its lead 1:23 afterward a three-on-one rush when Ethan de Jong ripped a shot from the fitting circle and Swetlikoff buried the rebound close to the crease. Nevertheless, on the suggestion of video coach Brad Krakowitz, the Roadrunners challenged the play. After reviewing the play, the officers decided Swetlikoff had kicked the puck in, wiping the objective off the board.
Undeterred, the Condors continued to push the tempo and management play for a lot of the opening 12 minutes whereas outshooting Tucson 14-2 in that span. The sustained strain finally paid off, and Ryan beat Villalta with a wrister from the slot to make it 2-0 at 11:53.
Tucson had an opportunity to shift the momentum when Bakersfield was referred to as for too many males with 6:23 remaining. Off the following draw, Curtis Douglas almost tucked residence a rebound, however Rodrigue kicked out his pad to disclaim him. Seconds later, Douglas was whistled for tripping, negating the facility play simply 30 seconds in.
The Condors took benefit of the chance, and made it 3-0 when Savoie’s wrist shot from the left circle trickled by Villalta’s pads with 4 minutes left within the interval.
Needing a response, the Roadrunners discovered one late. Walker drew a hooking penalty on Corcoran after being taken down on a breakaway. On the following energy play, he put Tucson on the board, slicing the deficit to 3-1 with two minutes to go. McCartney fired a shot excessive, and Walker managed the rebound earlier than lifting a backhander over Rodrigue.
THIRD PERIOD
Tucson generated a high quality scoring likelihood 5 minutes in on a three-on-two rush into the Condors’ zone. Sokolov dropped the puck again to Douglas, who hesitated briefly to drag Rodrigue out of his crease. Nevertheless, the Bakersfield netminder stood tall and turned apart Douglas’ shot to protect the two-goal lead.
The Roadrunners managed play by the primary half of the interval, and their sustained strain paid off when Agozzino minimize the deficit to 3-2 with 9:30 remaining. Artem Duda delivered a centering feed, and Agozzino rifled a shot from the highest of the left circle into the far-side nook of the online.
Tucson continued to press and almost discovered the equalizer with 3:25 to go. Szuber snapped a cross throughout the blue line to Onyebuchi, who fired a shot from the highest of the fitting circle, however Rodrigue made the save.
Lower than a minute later, a expensive too-many-men penalty put the Roadrunners on the penalty kill with 2:34 left. Tucson efficiently killed it off and earned an offensive-zone faceoff with 27 seconds remaining, giving them one last likelihood to pressure additional time. With Villalta pulled for the additional attacker, the Roadrunners pushed for the tying objective, however Bakersfield cleared the zone and held on to outlive Tucson’s comeback bid.
UP NEXT
The Roadrunners return to Southern Arizona to open up a four-game homestand on Tuesday in opposition to the Ontario Reign. Puck drop is about for six:30 p.m. MST. Followers can catch the motion stay on AHLTV on FloHockey and buy tickets utilizing the link here.

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