Head coach Joe Dibble and his Springfield Junior Blues didn't expect to end the year 2011 on a skid--but following Saturday night's loss, that is exactly what they have done.
Peter Traber blocked all twenty-two Springfield shots and recorded his second shut-out in as many days on Saturday night when the Topeka RoadRunners defeated the Jr. Blues 3-to-0 inside the Kansas Expo Centre in Topeka Kansas in a North American Hockey League contest.
The RoadRunners wasted no time to get on the scoreboard thanks to a goal from Ben Bahe, just 3:39 into the first period. Topeka then added another goal at the 10:12 mark in the first from Dan Dupell and they held a commanding 2-0 lead against the Blues' starter, Connor Girard.
Girard was given the loss between the pipes after he allowed three goals on thirty-one Topeka shots. He fell to 4-11 on the season and has now given up fifty-goals on the season.
Sean Gaffney opened up the second period with a powerplay goal for the RoadRunners just 2:29 into the second period. Topeka went 1-for-4 on the one man advantage--while Springfield went 0-for-5.
The loss dropped the Junior Blues to 12-20-1 on the season, and now are entering the new year with a five game losing streak in which the team has scored just five goals during the five game stretch.
The team has outshot for the game 31-to-22 by the RoadRunners, and failed to find the net for the second straight game. Also, the team hasn't scored in it's last 128 minutes 37 seconds of play, going all the way back to a short-handed goal scored by Ruslan Pedan is the third-period of a 3-2 loss to Saint Louis on December 18. The Blues have gone more than four full games without an even strength goal (271 minutes 17 seconds) since Chris Sitler scored at 8:43 of the second in a 6-1 loss to the Bandits on December 16th.
Springfield will host Kalamazoo next weekend on Friday and Saturday night inside the Nelson Center. Both games will be dropping the puck and 7 pm.
Springfield--------------0-----0-----0-----0
Topeka-------------------2-----1-----0-----3
Goals Scored:
Springfield-none
Topeka-(1st)-Ben Bahe (Chris Bond, Dan Dupell) 3:39; Dan Dupell (Ryan White, Jake Lynes) 10:12; (2nd)-Sean Gaffney (PP-Luke Veitch, Michael Pastor) 2:29
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