ECHL Idaho Steelheads

All-Out Brawl Turns Tide As Steelheads Lose To RoadRunners 7-5

Published on January 12, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Phoenix, AZ - Marty Flichel racked up four points and J.B. Bittner scored twice but the Steelheads still lost to the Phoenix RoadRunners 7-5, in a game that featured 162 penalty minutes and a brawl that knocked Steelheads' goaltender John Daigneau out of the contest at the US Airways Center on Friday night.

Bittner opened the game's scoring putting the Steelheads up 1-0 with a deflection goal on the power play at 4:51 of the first period. It was his third straight game with a goal, as Flichel and Greg Rallo, who was named to the National Conference all-star team earlier in the day, drew the assists.

Jake Ortmeyer tied the contest at 8:55, ripping a power play goal from just inside the blue line that eluded a screened Daigneau (3 saves). Less than two minutes later the RoadRunners took their first lead on a 70-foot shot by Brett Smith that tipped off Steelheads' defenseman Kyle Peto and knuckled past a stunned Daigneau.

The Steelheads rattled off three straight special teams markers in a span of just over four minutes to retake the lead before the first period expired. At the 14:00 mark, Bittner recorded his second of the night, beating RoadRunners' goaltender Cody Rudkowsky (13 saves) on a shorthanded breakaway. Bittner shielded the puck from the RoadRunners' defense deked around Rudkowsky to the left of the crease and slid the puck into the empty net for an unassisted tally.

Flichel then potted his first of two straight power play goals to help the Steelheads to a lead. His 15th of the year was an unassisted, individual effort as he got past two RoadRunners' defenseman before actually banking the puck off a RoadRunners player and past Rudkowsky. At 18:02, Flichel blasted the puck from the slot just inside the right post for his team-leading 16th. Rallo got the only assist.

With no time left in the opening period, Steelheads' forward Taggart Desmet and RoadRunners' defenseman Dave Pszenyczny got in a fight that led to an all-out brawl, when Rudkowsky skated the length of the ice to jump Daigneau. In all, there were four fights and 128-combined penalty minutes. For the visitors, Daigneau left with an injury and Scott Burt, Travis Wight and Blake Forsyth were ejected from the contest, while Rudkowsky and three teammates got the early gate for the RoadRunners. Goaltener Mike Morrison (26 saves) came in to replace Rudkowsky for the final two periods.

Emergency back-up goaltender Tim Baumgartner came in to replace Daigneau to start the second period and his first professional save came on a penalty shot by Smith at 7:06 of the frame. On the play, Baumgartner out waited Smith before flashing out his right pad to keep the Steelheads in front, 4-2.

The RoadRunners began to mount their comeback at 8:06 of the second period on a goal by Todd Jackson, his sixth of the season. Then with 20 seconds left in the frame, the home team tied the contest at four on a power play goal by Smith, as Ortmeyer and Justin Aikins got the helpers.

In the third period, the RoadRunners took their second lead of the night on Jackson's second at the 2:51 mark. Midway through the stanza the Steelheads answered with Nesbitt collecting his 12th of the campaign at 11:46. Rallo and Flichel registered the assists on the game-tying goal that beat Morrison under the crossbar.

Late in regulation with the RoadRunners on the man advantage, Ortmeyer's second turned out to be the game-winner as he beat Baumgartner from the right circles with a one-timer to make the score 6-5. With less than a minute left, Jeff Kyrzkos picked up an empty net goal to round out the scoring.

The final shots were 44-25 in favor of the Steelheads, while the power play picked up four goals for the second straight night. The RoadRunners picked up three goals in five chances.

The Steelheads have a week off for the all-star break before the RoadRunners come to town for two games beginning on Friday, January 19. Face-off is at 7:10 p.m. MST. Don't forget, Steelheads' single-game tickets and all-star game tickets can be purchased via www.idahosteelheads.com (using the all-new, print-at-home feature), by calling 331-TIXS or from the Qwest Arena box office. The 2007 RBK ECHL All-Star Game at Qwest Arena is a two-night event beginning on Tuesday, January 16. Tickets to both events start at just $25.

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ECHL Stories from January 12, 2007


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