ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Forsyth's O.T. Winner Propels Steelheads Past Wranglers 3-2

January 26, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Las Vegas, NV - Defenseman Blake Forsyth buried the game-winning goal with 1:18 left in sudden death overtime as the Steelheads earned a come-from-behind, 3-2 victory over the Las Vegas Wranglers at Orleans Arena on Friday night.

The Steelheads' (22-16-1-1) third overtime win this season keeps them unbeaten in their current five-game road trip, while the Wranglers (19-8-5-5) fall in overtime for the fifth time this season.

Late in overtime, Lance Galbraith took a pass from Derek Nesbitt at center and turned it into an odd man rush along the right wing boards. Galbraith pulled up at the circles and used Nesbitt as a decoy, before finding Forsyth who came into the slot as the trailer. Forsyth took the feed, danced around Wranglers' goaltender Kevin Nastiuk (30 saves) and laid the puck into the empty net for his second goal of the season, and his second professional game-winner.

With the Steelheads trailing 2-1 late in the third period, goaltender Steve Silverthorn (30 saves) made several point blank stops, thus allowing Marty Flichel to provide his team-leading 20th of the season to tie the game at two with just 1:28 left in regulation. After Greg Rallo's original shot was blocked by the Wranglers' defense, Flichel gathered the bouncing puck in the high slot and spun to his forehand, wristing the puck through the five-hole of Nastiuk who was screened on the play. Defenseman Mike Gabinet gathered the second helper on the equalizer.

The Wranglers got the only goal of the first period at 13:01 of the first period on an even-strength goal by Steve Crampton, his 12th of the season. Derek Edwardson's initial shot from the high slot rang off the crossbar and banked off the back of Silvethorn's skates before Crampton swept it home. Joe Tallari grabbed the second assist.

Midway through the second period the Steelheads tied the match on Nesbitt's 16th of the campaign. While on the power play, Flichel feathered a pass from the along the left wing boards to defenseman Kyle Peto who was stationed just inside the blue line in the middle of the ice. Peto flipped a shot through traffic that bounced off Nastiuk's pads and back into the slot where Nesbitt stuffed it home. Flichel's assist extended his scoring streak to eight games, as he's now collected at least one assist in six straight contests.

At 16:47 of the second period the Wranglers regained the lead on a marker by Joe Tallari. After the Steelheads' momentarily controlled a defensive zone draw, the Wranglers won a battle deep in the Steelheads' zone allowing Crampton to find Tallari alone at the top of the crease, where he snapped a quick shot over the blocker of Silverthorn for the 2-1 advantage. Edwardson got his second assist of the night on the goal, his team-leading 22nd of the year.

The final shots ended in favor of the Steelheads, 33-32, as the Steelheads beat the Wranglers for the first time in the last seven meetings, including the 2006 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The Steelheads' finish their two-game set versus the Wranglers on Saturday, January 27. Faceoff is at 8:05 p.m. MST. 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.

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ECHL Stories from January 26, 2007


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