Texas Tornado – Topeka Roadrunners Weekend Preview
By Kirk Estes
Texas Tornado Booster Club: Texas Tornado defenseman and U of Denver signee, Nick Neville cuts off Topeka Roadrunners forward Brandon Brossoit’s drive to the net as Hunter Leisner protects the post.
The Texas Tornado will travel to Topeka to face the Roadrunners in a three game set with first round playoff implications. The Tornado are now holding down third place in the NAHL South Division five points behind Topeka with five games left to play. Mathematically if Texas can hold Topeka to three points or less out of the series, the Tornado could still finish in second place in the division. Realistically, the Tornado need to pull off the sweep to have a shot at overtaking Topeka.
A Tornado sweep would put Texas one point ahead of Topeka with two games to play. Texas closes out the regular season with two games at home against top ranked Amarillo while Topeka is on the road for a pair in Wichita Falls. Either way the Tornado will need elevate their level of play against both Topeka and Amarillo, and then look for some help from the Wildcats.
So far on the season Texas is just 2-7-0 against the Roadrunners with their last victory coming back on November 23rd.
| Last 5 Games | W | L | OTL | Pts |
| Texas Tornado | 3 |
2
0
6
Topeka Roadrunners
3
2
0
6
Special Teams
The Texas Tornado will look to their special teams to be a big part of this weekend series. Texas has the eighth best road power play in the league at 17.2% on 20 goals in 116 opportunities. They will be facing the top ranked home penalty kill in the league. The Roadrunners have allowed 13 power play goals on home ice in 122 times short handed for 89.3%.
Texas’ road penalty kill is every bit as stingy as Topeka’s home unit. The Tornado are at 89.7% with 11 goals allowed on 107 opportunities to rank as the top road unit in the league. Topeka’s home power play sit mid pack at number 15 in the league managing 18 goals on 124 opportunities for 14.5%.
Head to head this season, the Tornado have had the special teams advantage converting 6 of 34 power play opportunities while holding Topeka to just 3 of 34 for a 91.2% penalty kill.
Goaltending Comparison Last 5 Games
W |
L
OTL
SO
GA
GAA
SV
SV%
Texas Tornado
3
2
0
0
13
2.60
112
.896
Topeka Roadrunners
3
2
0
0
16
3.20
177
.917
Who is Hot (Last 5 Games)
| Texas Tornado | G | A | Pts |
| Nick Neville | 2 |
7
9
3
5
8
2
4
6
1
5
6
Topeka
Roadrunners
4
2
6
4
2
6
2
3
5
3
1
4
The Texas Tornado have four players who have eclipsed the 50 point mark this season. Brandon Hawkins 56 pts (34G-22A), Jackson Leef 56 pts (15G-41A), Justin Greenberg 52 pts (23G-29A) and Scott Conway 52 pts (17G-35A).
Topeka’s Sean Gaffney is third in the league in scoring with 63 pts (24G-39A) and Kyle Sharkey is tied for fourth with 62 pts (30G-32A). Sharkey is second in the league with 12 power play goals.
Brandon Hawkins leads the league with 34 goals scored three ahead of his nearest competitor. Jackson Leef is third in the league in assists with 41.
Nick Neville’s recent five game scoring run has moved him to fourth in the league in defenseman scoring with 33 pts (7G-26A).
Topeka’s Cody Hansen is third in the league in major penalties with 10 while Jason Eddy leads the league in minors with 44.
Topeka leads the league with 17 Game Misconduct penalties and 2 Match Penalties. The Roadrunners are the second most penalized team in the league averaging 23.64 minutes per game. Texas is 11th in the league at 19.13 minutes per game.
Topeka is a third period team with a +25 goal differential in the final frame compared to +9 in the first and +5 in the second. Texas on the other hand has a more balanced attack with goal differentials of +15, +22 and +19 in the first through third periods.
Texas is averaging 3.76 goals scored and 2.67 goals allowed per game, Topeka averages 3.15 goals scored and 2.45 goals allowed per game.
Spencer Viele is 7th in the league in Goals Against Average at 2.23 and Mackenzie Sawyer is 11th at 2.37. Hunter Leisner is 19th with a 2.61GAA.
Hunter Leisner is second in the league with 29 victories, second in saves with 1205 and leads the league in minutes played with 2713:01.
Newcomer Aaron Davis has played well in net since joining the Tornado at the trade deadline posting a 2-1-0 record. In March, Davis is 2-0-0 with a 1.5GAA and a .939SV%.