Big second period saves Renegades

-- The Richmond Renegades did all of their scoring in the second period last night, and it was just enough to hold off Twin City 4-3 in a Southern Professional Hockey League game in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Richmond turned on the red light four times, which was all the margin goaltender Ryan Scott needed to improve his record to 8-4-1.

Scott finished with 32 saves and was named first star of the game. With the victory, the Renegades (18-14-1, 37 points) moved within two points of second-place Huntsville (18-11-3, 39).

After spotting the Cyclones a 2-0 advantage after one period, the Renegades went to work early in the second.

Bill Zalba set up defenseman John Halverson for his 11th goal of the season just :44 into the frame. Richmond then seized the lead by scoring twice in a span of 22 seconds later in the period.

First, Dan Vandermeer scored on a power play at 13:12. The goal was his second in as many nights since returning from a broken arm. Then Zalba fed Dennis Sicard to put the Renegades up 3-2 at 13:34.

Before the period was over, Ryan Busby notched his 10th goal with an assist from Justin Joy. Busby was coming off a hat trick in Thursday's 4-1 win over Fayetteville.

Twin City made it a one-goal game 3:44 into the third period on a goal by Russell Smith, but Scott kept the Cyclones off the board the rest of the way.

Richmond returns to Coliseum ice tonight when it takes on Columbus in a 7:35 faceoff.

Richmond ------------------------- 0

0 - 4
Twin City ------------------------- 2

1 - 3

First period - 1, Twin City, Richard 13 (Sbrocchi), 11:37. 2, Twin City, Hustead 8 (Heintz, Sbrocchi), 15:39. Penalties - Lefebvre, TC (hooking), 6:52; Obelnicki, TC, major (fighting), 9:23; Sicard, Rich, major (fighting), 9:23.

Second period - 3, Richmond, Halverson 11 (Zalba), :44. 4, Richmond, Vandermeer 6 (Rollins, Karasiewicz), 13:12 (pp). 5, Richmond, Sicard 1 (Zalba), 13:34. 6, Richmond, Busby 10 (Joy), 17:29. Penalties - Richard, TC (tripping), 3:42; McLaughlin, Rich (tripping), 3:50; Sicard, Rich (charging), 5:18; Manny, TC (holding), 5:44; Smith, TC (roughing), 12:10.

Third period - 7, Twin City, Smith 3 (Hustead, Falco), 3:44. Penalties - Busby, Rich, major (fighting), 1:59; Heintz, TC, major (fighting), 1:59; Rollins, Rich (charging), 14:14; Joy, Rich (high-sticking), 20:00.

Shots on goal - Richmond 7-12-5-24; Twin City 18-10-7-35. Power-play opportunities - Richmond 1 of 4, Twin City 0 of 3. Goalies - Richmond: Scott 8-4-1 (35 shots-32 saves); Twin City: Druce 7-5-1 (24-20). Referee: Brent Coulombe. Attendance: 1,708.