ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Aces Snap Steelheads' Streak

Published on February 4, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID - The Idaho Steelheads (23-19-5) saw their four-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday night at CenturyLink Arena, as the Alaska Aces (17-22-5) scored six unanswered goals to take the opening game of this three game series, 6-1.

The Aces took advantage of nine minutes of power play time in the second period, first on a five-minute major penalty issued to Carson McMillan and then on a double-minor called on Kyle Jean for tripping and unsportsmanlike conduct later in the middle frame. The Steelheads had killed 29 consecutive penalties heading into that period, but Alaska would convert on both.

After William Wrenn had scored at 19:29 of the first period to give the Aces a 2-1 lead heading into the locker room, Wrenn capitalized again at 5:16 of the second. The Steelheads had killed off all but four seconds of the major penalty when a fanned shot by Tim Coffman drifted to the high slot for a Wrenn drive, his second of the game and fourth of the season after having gone 21 games without a goal heading into the contest.

Ahead 3-1, the Aces wasted no time after Jean's double-minor was assessed, with Coffman redirecting his 15th of the season past Jack Campbell at 13:37, just 20 seconds into the power play to make it 4-1 Aces.

The Aces would tack on two more goals in the third period. During four-on-four play, a Steelheads' pinch at the offensive blue line sprung a 2-on-1 rush for the Aces, with Stephen Perfetto depositing his ninth of the year to make it 5-1. A Steelheads' turnover and the ensuing shorthanded breakaway goal by Peter Sivak, his ninth of the year at 17:11 of the third, rounded out the scoring.

The Steelheads did get on the board first at 16:44 of the first period when Andre Morrissette fired his seventh goal of the year past Aces goaltender Troy Redmann. That lead was short-lived, as Ryan Tesink knotted the score just 1:34 later with his seventh of the season in his Aces debut.

The five-goal loss was Idaho's largest margin of defeat this season. They remain in fifth place in the Western Conference.

The Steelheads and Aces meet again on Friday night with puck-drop scheduled for 7:10pm MT. The game is available on 1350AM KTIK, CableOne, and ECHLTV.

STEELHEADS STATS:

Goals: Morrissette (7)

Jack Campbell: 22 saves on 28 shots

Power Play: 0-for-5

Penalty Kill: 2-for-4

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. William Wrenn ALK

2. Tim Coffman ALK

3. Troy Redmann ALK

COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME

William Wrenn: 2 goals, 1 assists, plus-2 rating

PLAY OF THE GAME:

The Steelheads penalty kill has been such a source of momentum over the course of the last two weeks, with key kills late in periods swaying the momentum of games. After giving up two goals late in the first period to fall behind and being penalized for a five minute major just 20 seconds into the next period, the Steelheads needed another big kill. They almost got it, just four seconds shy of even-strength. But when Tim Coffman's fanned shot attempt drifted right into William Wrenn's wheel-house, you knew it just wasn't the Steelheads' night. That goal made it 3-1 and the Steelheads had to play catch-up from that point. That forced mistakes and a game that got away from Idaho.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics

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ECHL Stories from February 4, 2016


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