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ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Ex-Steelhead Nesbitt Pushes Gladiators over Idaho

November 5, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID (11/04/15)- Derek Nesbitt netted his sixth goal of the season midway through the third period to complete the comeback and secure Atlanta its third consecutive road win, as the Gladiators (4-2-1) skated past the Steelheads (4-4-1) at CenturyLink Arena, 5-4.

The Steelheads were writing a comeback story of their own at the start of the third, scoring four consecutive goals to overcome a three-goal deficit and take a lead into the final frame. But the Steelheads' power play, which did score for the first time in six games, also surrendered two short-handed goals on the evening. The second short-handed tally would turn the game around.

Just 3:36 into the third period, with the Steelheads working the final seconds of a four-minute power play, Brad Navin carried the puck through the neutral zone and gained a step wide on defenseman Jake Rutt. Rutt brought his stick down across Navin's as the Gladiators' forward released a shot from the left face-off dot, possibly changing the speed as the puck squeaked through the pads of Eric Hartzell to tie the game 4-4 with 15 seconds left on the Idaho power play.

At 9:49 of the third period, Atlanta took the lead for good when Nesbitt, who was a Steelhead during the 2006-07 season and holds the club's single-season assists record, drilled a shot from the left wing past Hartzell. Hartzell was pulled from the game in favor of Philippe Desrosiers after giving up five goals on 25 shots.

The Steelheads had one last push to tie the game with a 5-on-3 advantage in the game's final minute, but were unable to capitalize with the goaltender pulled. Emil Molin was able to slip a pass through the crease to Shawn Boutin on the back door, but Boutin couldn't slide the bouncing puck into the open net.

The Steelheads were already down 2-0 late in the first when Brock Higgs converted on a short-handed 2-on-1 to give Atlanta a 3-0 lead. But Idaho responded quickly when Taylor Peters scored shortly after the ensuing center ice face-off, still on the power play. And after an ill-advised icing gave the Steelheads an offensive zone face-off with four seconds remaining, Tommy Fallen snapped a wrister for his first pro goal as time expired, sending the Steelheads to the dressing room trailing by just a goal.

Colton Beck and Brandon Magee scored early in the second period, giving Idaho four goals in a span of 5:15 and their only lead.

The loss snaps a two-game winning streak for the Steelheads and moves them back to the .500 mark. The team is 1-2-1 at CenturyLink Arena.

The Steelheads host the Atlanta Gladiators at CenturyLink Arena on Friday night. The Steelheads will wear custom jersey throughout the weekend to celebrate Military Appreciation Night on both Friday and Saturday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 7:10 MT.

STEELHEADS STATS:

Goals: Peters (4),Fallen (1), Beck (4), Magee (3)

Eric Hartzell: 20 saves on 25 shots; Philippe Desrosiers: 2 saves on 2 shots

Power Play: 1-for-5

Penalty Kill: 6-for-6

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Brandon Magee

2. Derek Nesbitt - Atlanta

3. Colton Beck

STEELHEADS COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME

Brandon Magee: 1 goal, 2 assists, plus-3, 7 shots

Play of the Game:

Power plays are always huge momentum shifts for one team or the other. When the Steelheads were able to kill their fourth 5-on-3 disadvantage in the past three games during the second period, it certainly gave the team a boost for the rest of that frame. But likewise, Idaho's failure to score on their four-minute power play to start the third period, and at the same time surrendering a second short-handed goal, was a deflator for them and gave life to an Atlanta team that had blown a 3-0 lead. Navin's goal in the early third turned the night around for the visitors and forced the Steelheads into one more comeback situation they could not overcome.

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