ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Frantic Rally Comes up Just Short for Idaho

December 14, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID - A wild, third-period rally from the Idaho Steelheads came up just short Saturday night as a series of shots and bounces just missed tying the game late, allowing the Alaska Aces to escape CenturyLink Arena with a 5-4 win in front of 3,943 fans.

The loss drops Idaho's record to 13-7-4 (30 points) after trailing 5-1 with less than eleven minutes left in the contest.

The first period was played at a break-neck pace up and down the ice with the only tally coming from Alaska's Brendan Connolly took advantage of an odd bounce off the end boards to score from the slot at 17:58 of the period. Idaho's Pat Nagle made a number of key saves in the first to limit the damage.

Alaska took control in the second, thanks in large part to five power-play opportunities. The Aces would only cash in on one of those opportunities but used the extended time advantage to control the puck and wear down the Steelheads. Jordan Kremyr (3:56), Ben Parker (14:43, power play) and Matthew Sisca (14:21) each scored in the second to push the Aces' lead to 4-0. Idaho's Anthony Nigro got one back for the Steelheads late in the period with a goal from the left circle at 17:39 as Idaho trailed, 4-1, going into the third period.

Nick Mazzolini extended Alaska's lead to 5-1 at 8:17 of the third on a goal that appeared to have been deflected, redirecting the puck past a helpless Nagle.

Forty seconds later, the game changed. Alaska's David Eddy took a double-minor penalty trying to engage Brett Robinson after a check along the wall. During the ensuing dust-up, rookie forward Mitchell Good squared off with Alaska's James Martin, landing a series of big right hands to inspire the crowd and give Idaho life. The Steelheads wasted no time converting, scoring on each end of Eddy's double-minor. First, at 9:23, Justin Mercier set up Gaelan Patterson from the right edge of the crease for his second of the season, making it a 5-2 game. Less than a minute later, the two swapped spots as Patterson delivered the assist to Mercier at 10:22, also from the right edge, to make it a two-goal game.

With the building buzzing, an Alaska turnover landed on the tape of Nigro in the slot at 10:45 and he buried it past Olivier Roy to cut what had been a four-goal deficit to one, 5-4, as the Steelheads scored three times in 1:22.

On the next shift, Dan DeLisle and Tommy Grant each nearly tied it, but Roy held firm. The Steelheads would author other chances - Mercier was denied on a game-tying opportunity late by Roy - as the shell-shocked Aces managed to hold on down the stretch despite a number of opportunities for Idaho.

Nagle took the loss for Idaho, though he played better than his numbers would suggest. He stopped 35 of 40 shots. Roy got the win, making 23 saves on 27 Idaho shots. Idaho's power play was a perfect 2-for-2 while Alaska had eight power-play opportunities, scoring one time.

Nigro (two goals), Patterson (goal, assist) and Mercier (goal, assist) each picked up multiple points in the loss for Idaho. Idaho now has 81 goals, most in the ECHL's Western Conference and second-most in the ECHL (Florida, 91).

The Steelheads conclude their season-long, eleven-game homestand with a three-game set next week against the Bakersfield Condors. The games are Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office at 208-331-8497.

COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME - Anthony Nigro (2G)

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS: 1) Gaelan Patterson (ID) 2) Justin Mercier (ID) 3) Nick Mazzolini (AK)

Group outings at a Steelheads game are a great way to gather friends, colleagues, or co-workers for a fun night out in downtown Boise. Ticket prices are discounted and you can get a Pepsi, Double-R Ranch Hot Dog, and bag of Tim's Cascade Chips with each ticket. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 or log on to www.idahosteelheads.com for more information.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 14, 2013


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