The top two teams in the NAHL South Division took to the NYTEX Sports Centre ice on Friday night with the Lone Star Brahmas looking to pull within one point of the Topeka Roadrunners.
After more than 13 minutes of Lone Star controlling the pace of play, Oskar Andrenpicked off a clearing attempt at the far point then delayed waiting for Sebastian Vidmar to join the play. Andren slid it across to Vidmar who went skate to stick then ripped a wrister off of Drew Vogler. Andren had followed his pass and was in perfect position to bump the rebound behind the Topeka netminder at 13:40.
The Roadrunners would get a gift with just over four minutes to go in the opening period. On a faceoff to TJ Black’s right following a Brahmas icing, Topeka’s Dominic Lutz won the draw back to the near point. Ryan Polin took a slapshot, but Black made a stick save which resulted in the puck jumping straight up in the air. Tyler Irvine who had gone to the front swatted it out of midair with a high stick was given credit for a goal by Referee Michael Zalcman. Time of the goal was 15:57. Topeka made a bid for their second of the period at 16:56 when they pushed a defensive zone faceoff forward and Lutz went racing into the zone all alone. Black came out to face him, calmly backed in and made a huge stick save sending the puck into the netting and keeping the score knotted at one apiece.
Zalcman did his best Santa Claus impersonation handing Irvine a power play goal at 5:36 of the second when he went into the zone off a home run pass from Polin. Irvine drove the net put the puck on goal while falling down. Black clearly stopped the puck, but Irvine slid into him pushing Black and the puck into the back of the net.
With 2:39 to go in regulation Vidmar had a golden opportunity to knot the game at two on the wrap around into an open net, but Vogler made a desperation diving glove save leaving Vidmar in disbelief. Unfortunately the Brahmas could not get the equalizer in the closing moments despite some stiff pressure and fell 2 – 1.
Lone Star outshot the Topeka 31 – 19 in the game but they came up 0 – 7 on the power play while allowing the Roadrunners to go 1 – 7.