Steelheads Break Aces Hearts
February 15, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
BOISE, Idaho - The Idaho Steelheads celebrated Valentine's Day in style, scoring a season-best nine goals and defeating the Anchorage Aces 9-5 at the Bank of America Centre Friday night before a crowd of 4,853. Assistant Coach Cal Ingraham picked up his first win behind the bench, filling in for Head Coach John Olver.
The Aces got on the board first when Eric Landry scored at 3:39 with a slapshot from outside the circle that got under Steelheads goalie Jason Cugnet and trickled in the net. Dampy Brar answered back just 23 seconds later to tie the game. Jeff Shevalier, in his first game back since being placed on the injured reserve list on December 30th, scored next to give the Steelheads a one-goal lead at 11:01. Brar scored his second of the night at 14:19 with a backhander assisted by Scott Swanson, who leads the West Coast Hockey League in assists (with 45). The Aces capitalized on their first power play opportunity of the night at 15:47 when Anchorage's Paul Williams set up a beautiful goal as he brought the puck in past two Steelheads before dishing it to Kevin McNeill who smoked it past Cugnet at 17:35. Idaho responded less than a minute later on an almost identical play, as Swanson carried the puck into the Anchorage zone, passed it to Brar, who completed his hat trick, the second of the season for Idaho and the first on home ice. After one it was 4-2, Idaho.
The second period saw the Aces strike first as Ryan Moren's one-timer from just inside the blue line got past a screened Cugnet to cut the Idaho lead to 4-3. Idaho regained its two-goal lead at the 10:51 mark when Derek Paget put the puck behind Christian Soucy. Anchorage answered with a goal by Tim Donnelly, who put a slapshot past a screened Cugnet. Idaho scored the final two goals of the period as Derek Paget made a perfect pass to Marty Flichel who was alone in front of the Aces net to knock it in. Dampy Brar picked up the assist for his fourth point of the game. Jeff Shevalier closed the second period scoring with his second of the night at 16:50.
The Steelheads' Marty Flichel scored his second of the game and 31st of the season on the power play at 2:24 of the third period. Anchorage took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play as B.J. Young's shot from a tough angle deflected off Idaho's Scott Swanson and past Cugnet to make it 8-5. Idaho wrapped up their highest scoring game of the season at 11:08 when Scott Swanson tallied on the power play. Idaho outshot Anchorage, 41-21 as Jason Cugnet improved his league-leading win total to 28-9-1.
Eleven Steelheads scored at least one point, with Brar (3G, 1A) and Shevalier (2G, 2A) leading the way. Swanson (1G, 2A), Paget (1G, 2A), Flichel (2G, 1A) and Swanson (3A) tallied three points. Begg (2A) was the other multi-point producer for Idaho.
The two teams hook up again Saturday night at the Bank of America Centre for a 7:05 faceoff.
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ECHL Stories from February 15, 2003
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