Power Play Helps Steelheads Rout Falcons 6-1
Published on March 8, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
Boise, ID - Five different skaters found the back of the net, as the Steelheads opened a crucial three-game series against the Fresno Falcons with a convincing 6-1 victory in front of 3,806 fans at Qwest Arena on Thursday night.
The Steelheads (33-19-2-3) have now won eight of their last 11 games on home ice and three of their last five contests overall. The victory also allows them to move six points ahead of the Falcons (30-22-2-3) in the National Conference playoff picture, as they've won all three matches against the Falcons this season.
Late in the first period, Steelheads' winger Tuomas Mikkonen broke a scoreless tie, tapping the puck into an empty net after a scramble at the top of the Falcons' crease. Fellow linemates Jeremy Yablonski and Alexander Naurov, playing in his first professional game in North America, grabbed the assists on Mikkonen's 10th of the campaign at 18:21.
Just 13 seconds later, Marty Flichel was hauled down on a breakaway, resulting in a penalty shot. On his penalty shot Flichel snapped a shot to the low blocker side of Falcons' goaltender Scott Stirling (25 saves) that beat him cleanly for his team-leading 32nd of the season and a 2-0 lead.
After 20 minutes of play, the Steelheads were in front 2-0 despite being out-shot 13-11.
At 4:26 of the second period Darrell Hay potted his eighth of the campaign with a wrist shot from the right point that found its way through traffic and past a stunned Stirling. Hay's eighth of the year was even-strength and unassisted. Then at the 8:17 mark Mikkonen netted his second of the night popping home a loose puck from the side of the Falcons' crease after Taggart Desmet's shot was kicked aside by Stirling. Scott Burt also drew an assist on the power play tally, which helped earn Mikkonen his first two-goal effort in the ECHL while Burt now has a point in five straight games.
The Steelheads made it a 5-0 game less than two minutes into the third period when former Falcon Colin Shields swept a rebound past Stirling for power play tally, his 16th of the season. Lance Galbraith and Flichel snagged the helpers. Galbraith's assist gave him a point for the ninth straight tilt, marking a season high.
The Falcons would get on the board at 5:07 of the frame, with Brett Hammond scoring his sixth of the year. Linemate John Wroblewski took a shot from the right wing circles that Steelheads' goaltender Steve Silverthorn (31 saves) stopped with his right pad, but the rebound caromed to Hammond who buried his chance.
At 12:57 of the third, Steelheads' defenseman Kyle Peto unloaded a one-timer from the right point that soared over the glove of Stirling for his eighth of the season. Desmet, who won the offensive zone draw, and defenseman Kory Scoran picked up the assists on the marker that rounded out the scoring.
For the contest the Falcons out-shot the Steelheads 32-31, as the Steelheads are now 12-4-1-1 when being out-shot. The three power play goals tallied by the home team allows them to extend their streak to six consecutive games with a man advantage goal. The Falcons finished the night zero-for-four with an extra attacker. Silverthorn is now 29-12-2-3 and unbeaten in his last 11 appearances. With the loss, Stirling drops to 12-8-0-2.
The Steelheads continue their series with the Falcons on Friday, March 9. The puck drops at 7:10 p.m. MST. Don't forget, Steelheads' single-game tickets are still available, and can be purchased by calling 331-TIXS, by visiting www.idahosteelheads.com 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.
ECHL Stories from March 8, 2007
