Photos: Roadrunners open the Calder Cup play-offs with a 2-0 loss to Calgary, AHL playoffs
The Tucson Roadrunners fall into a hole with the 2-0 loss in the opener of their best-of-three American Hockey League playoff series with the visiting Calgary Wranglers, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Roadrunners goalie Matthew Villalta (31) makes a juggling catch to save a Calgary shot in the second period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Roadrunners’ Austin Poganski (41) tries to lean his way to the puck against Calgary defenseman Colton Poolman (5) in front of the Wrangler net in the second period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Roadrunners’ Dylan Guenther (11) bowls over a linesman while getting past Calgary right wing Adam Klapka (43) in the second period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
A Roadrunner fan applauds the review decision that upheld a no-goal call against Calgary in the second period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Calgary center Mitch McLain (6) slaps down the puck in front of Roadrunners goalie Matthew Villalta (31) in the second period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Roadrunners forward Jan Jenik (24) sends Calgary center Clark Bishop (19) flying in the second period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az. Both Bishop and Jenik were assessed penalties on the fracas.
Roadrunners’ Matthew Villalta (31) parries a close range shot from Calgary in the second period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
A Roadrunners fan holds up her own contribution to the in-match game This Or That during a time out in the second period of their Calder Cup play-off game against Calgary, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az. The choices on her sign are for the Roadrunners’ current home, the Tucson Convention Center, and the rumored upcoming move of the team to ASU’s Mullett Arena in Tempe.
Roadrunners’ Hunter Drew (36) pokes his way past Calgary’s Jakob Pelletier (49) in the second period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Roadrunners’ Patrik Koch (64) jams Calgary’ Riley Damiani (11) off his skates in the second period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Roadrunners’ Josh Doan (91) scrapes the puck away from Calgary’s Matt Coronato (39) near mid-ice in the second period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Roadrunners Matthew Villalta (31) reaches out to knock the puck off a Calgary blade in the second period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Calgary’s Colton Poolman (5) smothers a puck in front of goalie Dustin Wolf (32) in the third period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Roadrunners’ Aku Raty (35) tries to push the pile covering the puck, over the goal line against Calgary in the third period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Calgary goalie Dustin Wolf (32) makes a save on a point-blank shot from the Roadrunners in the third period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Roadrunners’ Hunter Drew (36) screens off Calgary’s Jakob Pelletier (49) while advancing the puck in the third period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Roadrunners’ Cameron Hebig (39) gets taken to the ice between Calgary’s Matt Coronato (39), left, and Jordan Oesterle (15) in the third period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Roadrunners’ Dylan Guenther (11) muscles his way over Calgary’s Sam Morton (45) in the third period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Calgary’s Cole Schwindt (10) slams into Roadrunners goalie Matthew Villalta (31) and takes him into the boards in the third period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Calgary’s Matt Coronato (39) celebrates after scoring an empty netter in the final seconds to ice a 2-0 win over the Roadrunners in the third period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
A Roadrunners fan holds a sign imploring the team to remain in town before the opening game against Calgary in the Calder Cup play-offs, April 24, 2024, in Tucson.
A Roadrunners fan wears a luchadores mask in the stands before the start of the game against Calgary in their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Calgary goalie Dustin Wolf (32) stuffs a between the legs shot from Roadrunners’ Jan Jenik (24) in the first period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Calgary’s Adam Klapka (43) and Roadrunners’ Travis Barron (26) cross sticks chasing the puck in the first period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Roadrunners’ Aku Raty (35) slams into Calgary goalie Dustin Wolf (32) in the first period of their Calder Cup play-off game, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Roadrunners fans wave their towels during the team’s White Out game to open their best-of-three series against Calgary in the Calder Cup play-offs, April 24, 2024, Tucson, Az.
A fan holds up a sign for the movement to keep the Roadrunners in Tucson before puck drop against Calgary in the Calder Cup playoffs, April 24, 2024.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
The Tucson Roadrunners outshot the Calgary Wranglers 46-35 in the teams' Calder Cup playoff opener Wednesday night, but Tucson couldn't slip even one goal past Calgary goalie Dustin Wolf in a 2-0 defeat. Tucson must win Friday (also at Tucson Arena) to keep its season alive.
After 73 games in 2023-24, the Tucson Roadrunners' season, and perhaps existence, has come down to one do-or-die game. Down 1-0 in a first-round, best-of-three Calder Cup playoff series, the Roadrunners host Calgary again Friday at 7 p.m. at Tucson Arena.