Short-Handed Roadrunners Rally From 2-0, McCartney Nets OT Winner

Ben McCartney's overtime tally with 33 seconds remaining capped a dramatic comeback as the Tucson Roadrunners erased a 2-0 hole to defeat the Henderson Silver Knights 3-2 on Jan. 26 in Henderson, Nev. The victory hinged on late-game heroics and steady goaltending as Tucson maintained its hold on a Pacific Division playoff position.

Henderson jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Tucson began chipping away in the second period when Andrew Agozzino cut the deficit with a power-play goal, making it 2-1. The Roadrunners then weathered a tense stretch late in the third, killing off a 5-on-3 disadvantage that could have put the game away for the home side. With the goalie pulled, Sammy Walker converted a late equalizer with 45 seconds left in the third to force overtime. In the extra period, Ben McCartney finished the rally, burying the winner to secure the 3-2 final.

Jaxson Stauber was central to Tucson's comeback, stopping 33 shots and earning the victory between the pipes. Stauber's steadiness on a night when the Roadrunners dressed a shortened lineup underscored the team's reliance on depth players and short-handed resilience. Killing a late 5-on-3 demonstrated disciplined penalty-killing structure and situational awareness under pressure.

From a performance standpoint, Agozzino provided the timely special-teams production Tucson needed, Walker delivered on the high-risk, high-reward strategy of pulling the goalie, and McCartney supplied the finishing touch in extra time. Stauber's 33 saves framed the team effort, turning a game that threatened to slip away into a two-point swing in the standings.

The win has broader implications beyond the box score. For an AHL club operating in the Sun Belt market, road victories and dramatic finishes help sustain fan interest and attendance momentum as the season heads into its crucial months. For the Roadrunners' NHL affiliate, the game offered a reminder that roster depth and clutch contributions from call-up candidates or depth forwards can be decisive during playoff races. The ability to rally while short-handed also speaks to coaching adjustments and conditioning, intangibles that matter as teams jockey for seeding.

Culturally, the comeback adds to the growing narrative of hockey establishing roots outside traditional markets, with Tucson's late-game resilience feeding local enthusiasm and regional media coverage. Socially, moments like Walker's equalizer and McCartney's OT winner create communal experiences for fans that sustain engagement beyond wins and losses.

The Roadrunners walk out of Henderson with two points and a boost in morale. As the Pacific Division grind continues, performances from Jaxson Stauber, Andrew Agozzino, Sammy Walker, and Ben McCartney offer tangible names to watch as Tucson defends its playoff position and pursues consistency down the stretch.