Topeka sweeps Thunder with 4-0 victory

Published 8:58 am Monday, February 22, 2010

The special teams were better for the Albert Lea Thunder but even strength play was a different story.

The Thunder (11-30-5) gave up two power-play goals Saturday to Topeka in a 4-0 loss at City Arena, which was a far cry from the four they surrendered Friday and the six they gave up to Alexandria last Sunday, but still the NAHL’s top team got it done without any extra advantages.

Justin Kovacs had two goals for the second consecutive game while Tony Thomas and Patrick Kirtland also scored.

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Kovacs gave the RoadRunners (37-7-4) a 1-0 lead at 17:44 in the first period on a power-play goals and Topeka later scored three times in the third for a two-game sweep of Albert Lea.

The RoadRunners swept the season series 5-0 and outscored the Thunder 30-7.

Topeka outshot Albert Lea 36-22 Saturday.

Topeka 4, Albert Lea 0

Topeka 1 0 3 — 4

Albert Lea 0 0 0 — 0

First Period—1, Topeka, Justin Kovacs 7 (Michael Hill, Kevin Ryan), 17:44 (pp.). Penalties—Stephen Obarzanek, Alb (slashing), 1:29; Hill, Top (checking from behind), 7:31; Zach May, Alb (hooking), 9:53; Brandon Lubin, Alb (hooking), 16:02; Erik Higby, Top (slashing), 19:33.

Second Period—None. Penalties—Colton Warner, Alb (checking from behind), 2:20; Bryan Mitchell, Alb (tripping), 12:58; Niko Kapetanovic, Alb (tripping), 13:28; Patrick Kirtland, Top (slashing), 16:26.

Third Period—2, Topeka, Tony Thomas 18 (Jacob Poe, Edgars Lipsbergs), 10:46. 3, Topeka, Kirtland 12 (Poe), 15:18 (pp.). 4, Topeka, Kovacs 8 (Higby, Chris Bond), 16:25. Penalties—None.

Shots on Goal—Topeka 11-10-15—36. Albert Lea 11-3-8—22.

Power-play opportunities—Topeka 2 of 6; Albert Lea 0 of 3.

Goalies—Topeka, Evan Karambelas 17-3-1 (22 shots-22 saves). Albert Lea, Joe Rogers 8-16-2 (36-32).

A—500. T—2:00.

Referee—Tom Chmielewski. Linesmen—Brett Martin, Matthew Tyree.