Galbraith, Nesbitt and Lammers Bury Two Goals Apiece As Steelheads Rout Thunder 6-1 To Win Series
April 18, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
Boise, ID - A three-goal outburst in the first 12 minutes of the contest proved to be enough, as the Steelheads ended the Stockton Thunder's season with a convincing 6-1 win in Game Six of the National Conference Quarter Finals in front of 3,110 fans at Qwest Arena on Wednesday night.
With the victory, the Steelheads (4-2) win the best-of-seven series 4-2 to advance on to the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2004. Meanwhile, the Thunder, coming off their best regular season in their brief two-year history and their first-ever playoff appearance, have their campaign come to an abrupt halt as the five-goal defeat equals their worst loss of 2006-2007.
The Steelheads jumped out to an early lead at 3:35 of the opening period on Lance Galbraith's fourth of the series. After defenseman Kory Scoran snapped a shot from the left circles that kicked off the pads of Thunder goaltender Devan Dubnyk (26 saves), Galbraith swept home the rebound for a 1-0 lead. Derek Nesbitt picked up the second helper to help him extend his series-long scoring streak to six games.
Less than three minutes later the home team struck again, as John Lammers was left wide open in the Thunder slot and he deposited a B.J. Crombeen feed over the blocker of Dubnyk for his second marker of the series. Jay Beagle grabbed the second assist, the first professional playoff point of his career, on the second even-strength tally of the period.
The onslaught continued at 11:55 of the first period, with Nesbitt picking up his fourth goal of the series and his third on the power play. Off a rush into the Thunder zone, Nesbitt drove towards the left post and Lammers flipped a pass from the right circles that the second-year pro was able to tip past a sprawled out Dubnyk. Marty Flichel registered the second helper as he extended his points streak to six games.
The offensive barrage continued in the second period at the 7:54 mark when Lammers worked his way out from below the Thunder goal line and past defenseman Brian Lee before knocking a shot off Dubnyk and over the goal line to make it 4-0. The goal was unassisted and Lammers second of the night.
It became 5-0 before the second intermission on a shorthanded effort veteran winger Scott Burt. Burt raced into the Thunder zone and with two defenders tracking him; he spun a blind pass to Nesbitt who was trailing the play. Nesbitt's first shot sailed over the crossbar, but the puck bounced right back to him and he lifted his second chancer over the head of Dubnyk. Burt's assist, was his first point of the series, and it came on the club's first shorthanded goal of the quarter finals.
Through two periods, the shots favored the Steelheads 22-15 and they held a 5-0 lead.
Galbraith netted his second of the evening at 5:07 of the third period to increase the advantage to 6-0, with Flichel and Lars Helminen snagging the assists.
With time winding down, Thunder center Nathan Martz would end Steve Silverthorn's (22 saves) bid for a shutout with 3:17 left in regulation, wristing a shot from the top of the left circles that snuck past his right pad. Troy Bodie got the only assist.
The final shots favored the Steelheads 32-23. The Steelheads ended the night one-for-five on the power play, and a perfect three-for-three on the penalty kill. Over the final five games of the series, the Steelheads did not allow a power play goal, going 35-for-35 since Game One.
The Steelheads now await the National Conference's top seed, the Las Vegas Wranglers or the second seed, the Alaska Aces. For dates and times of their pending National Conference Semi-Finals series, check out www.idahosteelheads.com or tune in to the Bud Light Idaho Steelheads Hockey show on 1350 AM, KTIK "The Ticket" over the next couple of days. For tickets for the second round, call (208) 331-TIXS, check out the Steelheads' web site or go to the Qwest Arena box office.
ECHL Stories from April 18, 2007
- Galbraith, Nesbitt and Lammers Bury Two Goals Apiece As Steelheads Rout Thunder 6-1 To Win Series - Idaho Steelheads
- Wildcatters Win in OT 5-4, Take 2-1 Series Lead - Texas Wildcatters
- Idaho advances, Thunder season ends on Idaho's six-goal rally - Stockton Thunder
- Gladiators Fall to Wildcatters 5-4 in OT - Atlanta Gladiators
- Pandolfo And Magnan Come Back To Trenton - Trenton Devils
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Kelly Cup Playoffs Broadcast On B2 Networks For Fourth Straight Year - ECHL
- Trenton's Leblond Suspended One Game, Fined - ECHL
- Former Long Beach Ice Dog Halak Named MeiGray Group Alumnus Of The Month - ECHL
- Fitzsimmons Steps Down as Head Coach - South Carolina Stingrays
- Magowan Returns to Toledo - Toledo Walleye
- Gwinnett's Bennefield Suspended One Game, Fined - ECHL
- Texas' David Suspended One Game, Fined - ECHL
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Wildcatters Set for First Home Playoff Game in Team History Tonight - Texas Wildcatters
- Cyclones-Toledo Preview - Cincinnati Cyclones
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.
