ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Idaho Storms Back for 6-5 Victory

Published on March 9, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID - Gaelan Patterson netted a short-handed goal in the third period and added two assists as the Idaho Steelheads rallied from an early, 3-0 deficit to defeat the Las Vegas Wranglers on Saturday night, 6-5, in front of a sellout crowd at CenturyLink Arena.

With the win, Idaho (30-22-7) snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 22-1-2 when scoring more than three goals in a game.

Things started ominously for the home team when the visiting Wranglers netted three goals in an eight-minute span between 3:34 and 11:34 of the first period. First, it was former Steelhead Chad Nehring poking home a rebound before Adam Hughesman snapped home a shot from the left-wing circle. John Armstrong wrapped up the early binge with a power-play goal to put the Wranglers up, 3-0. just over halfway through the first period, a lead that held into the early stages of the second period.

Idaho got on the board at the five-minute mark of the second when Rob Linsmayer banged home a rebound of a Patterson shot, making it 3-1. Mitch Wahl trimmed the deficit further when he dodged an open-ice hit attempt from Adam Huxley, moved into the high slot for a wrist shot over the glove of Travis Fullerton at 6:48, Wahl's 15th, making it 3-2.

Las Vegas got one goal back when Chris Kushneriuk, just returned to pro hockey after a battle with cancer, scored on a rebound at the 14-minute mark, his first tally of the season.

The Steelheads continued the uphill climb at 16:05 when Ryan Button snapped home his sixth goal of the season from the left-wing circle to once again trim Las Vegas's lead to one goal, 4-3. Idaho tied the game with its fourth goal of the second period when Patterson found Linsmayer in the slot near the hashmarks for a wrister. Linsmayer's goal was his second of the period and 14th of the season.

Early in the third, Taylor Vause feathered a nice centering pass from the high slot to the top of the crease and William Rapuzzi redirected it past Fullerton at the 5:10 mark, giving Idaho a 5-4 lead. The Steelheads would pick up an important insurance goal at 13:47 when Patterson knocked home a rebound on his own short-handed shot attempt, his seventh goal of the season and third point of the night, giving Idaho a 6-4 lead with just over six minutes remaining.

Nehring's second of the night 54 seconds later put the issue very-much back in doubt, cutting the Idaho lead to 6-5, and the Wranglers thought they had tied it with less than two minutes to play but the goal was disallowed due to contact with Idaho goaltender Pat Nagle in the crease. Idaho was able to ride out the final, tense seconds from there to secure the win.

Nagle, who relieved Josh Robinson at the 14-minute mark of the second period, picked up the win for Idaho, his 20th of the season. Fullerton took the loss for Las Vegas. The Steelheads power play came up empty on seven attempts while Las Vegas was 2-5 on the man-advantage.

Patterson (goal, two assists), Rapuzzi (goal, two assists), Linsmayer (two goals) and Wahl (goal, assist) each registered multiple points in the win.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics

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



ECHL Stories from March 9, 2014


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