ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Early Deficit Hurts Steelheads In 5-3 Loss To Wranglers

Published on December 2, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID - A couple of tough bounces and a three-goal deficit after 20 minutes of play were too much, as the Steelheads fell to the Las Vegas Wranglers 5-3 in front of 4,508 fans at Qwest Arena on Saturday night.

The Steelheads (11-6-1-1) have now lost three straight games this season and this is their first three-game home losing streak since the end of December 2005. Meanwhile the Wranglers (12-1-2-5) have won eight straight games and sit atop the ECHL with 31 points.

The Wranglers scored first at 4:21 of the opening period off an own-goal by Steelheads' defenseman Darrell Hay. Hay gathered the puck deep in his defensive zone and as he cut through the Steelheads' slot the puck hopped over his stick and between the legs of goaltender Steve Silverthorn (21 saves). Wranglers' forward Derek Edwardson, who dumped the puck into the zone, was credited with the unassisted goal.

Another fluky goal put the Wranglers in front 2-0. This time Edwardson wristed the puck off the left wing boards, attempting to dump it into the Steelheads' zone and the puck bounced off the glass and past a stunned Silverthorn. Marco Peluso and Scott Schoneck got the assists on Edwardson's second of the contest, which was a power play goal.

With four seconds left in the first period, the Wranglers went ahead 3-0 on a power play goal by Aki Seitsonen. Silverthorn stopped Peluso's initial shot but Seitsonen banged home the rebound for his eighth of the campaign.

The Wranglers then made it 4-0 with a five-on-three power play goal at 5:57 of the second period. Shawn Limpright received a cross-crease pass from Edwardson and slipped it past the outstretched Silverthorn for his seventh of the year. Schoneck got his second assist of the evening on the play.

At 8:09 of the second stanza the Steelheads got on the board via a breakaway goal by Marty Flichel, his team leading 12th of the season. Hay found Flichel in front of the Steelheads bench and he streaked ahead of the defense before lifting a shot over Wranglers' goaltender Mike McKenna (40 saves).

Late in the second period, the Steelheads cut the deficit in half. Winger Derek Nesbitt smacked a spinning backhander past McKenna at 19:48 for his ninth of the year. Jeremy Yablonski and D'Arcy McConvey set up the even-strength goal.

The lead became 5-2 on Nick Anderson's eighth of the season, as Chris Neiszner centered the puck off the rush and it clanged off Anderson's ankle and past Silverthorn at the 4:17 mark. Defenseman Jason Josza got an assist as well.

Lance Galbraith cut the Wranglers lead to 5-3 with a power play goal at 6:37 of the third. Hay and Nesbitt set up the play, as Galbraith extended his scoring streak to seven games.

The final shots were 43-26 in favor of the Steelheads, as they fell to the Wranglers for the sixth straight time overall, which includes last season's playoffs.

The Steelheads open a home series with the Phoenix RoadRunners on Wednesday, December 6. The puck drops at 7:10 p.m. MST. The Steelheads will be wearing special 10th Anniversary jerseys throughout the series, with a jersey auction taking place on Saturday, December 9 to benefit Muscular Dystrophy Association. Steelheads' single-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.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from December 2, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central