Steelheads close out regular season with 4-3 shootout win over Gulls
April 6, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
San Diego, California - Rookie forward Andy Contois registered one goal and two assists, as the Steelheads erased three, one-goal deficits to win 4-3 in a shootout over the San Diego Gulls from the iPayOne Center on Wednesday night.
The Steelheads (43-21-8) are the first team in the ECHL to wrap up their 72-game regular season schedule, as they finish the campaign unbeaten in their last five games at 4-0-1. The 43 victories in the regular season are the most in the team's ECHL history. The club also finishes their season series with the Gulls at 3-3-1.
For the second time in the three-game series, the Gulls got the game's first goal. Forward Rob Flynn smacked home a rebound from the top of the crease at 6:15 of the first period. Flynn found the loose puck that originated off of Kelly Askew's point shot and beat Matt Yeats (33 saves) for his eighth of the season and second of the series. Mike Falk also drew an assist.
The Steelheads tied the game at one with an even-strength goal at 10:49 of the frame. Contois recorded his first professional goal, beating Mike Mole (24 saves) with a backhander along the ice. The Northern Michigan University product grabbed a bouncing puck along the left wing boards and cut across the crease waiting for Mole to commit, before slipping the puck home. His goal was unassisted.
The Gulls took their second lead of the game at 12:36 of the second period, when Pierre Luc-Sleigher netted his 23rd goal of the season. Taking a feed at the right circles, Sleigher blasted a one-timer past Yeats for his second goal of the series. Flynn and Mark Wires set up the goal.
With just 1.6 seconds left in the second stanza, Paul Caponigri beat Mole for his 15th goal of the season, tying the game at two. David Bararuk extended his scoring streak to a team-high, 12 games with an assist on Caponigri's even-strength goal. Contois also got a helper.
The two teams traded goals in the third period with Jesse Bennefield scoring at 4:38, putting the Gulls in front 3-2. Then Steelheads' defenseman Jarad Bourassa potted his 13th of the season to tie the game. Contois recorded the only assist on Bourassa's goal at 7:24 of the third.
After a scoreless overtime, Greg Rallo, Bararuk and Marty Flichel tallied in the shootout, while Yeats stopped all three Gulls' shooters. The final shots were 36-27 in favor of the home team.
Don't forget Steelheads' fans, Kelly Cup playoff tickets are on sale now! Call 331-TIXS or visit any Select-A-Seat location to get your seats for the West Division Semi-Finals. The Steelheads will begin the best-of-seven series on the road, but play at home on Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15.
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