ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Conquer Falcons, 4-1

January 20, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, Idaho - Winger Paul Caponigri netted one goal and one assist in his first game in a Steelheads jersey, leading them to a 4-1 victory over the Fresno Falcons in front of 4,001 fans at Qwest Arena on Friday night.

With the win, the Steelheads snapped a four-game winless streak on home ice, while improving to 22-12-3 overall. The Falcons dropped to 21-7-8. Three of the Falcons seven regulation losses have come at the hands of the Steelheads.

There was no scoring in the first period, as the shots were 13-12 in favor of the visitors.

The second period saw the Steelheads build a two-goal lead. Center David Bararuk scored for the first time in 10 games, as he rocketed home a power play goal at 6:05 of the frame. Bararuk's shot from the left circles appeared to hit somebody in front before it found the back of the net. Marty Flichel gathered the primary assist and team captain D'Arcy McConvey drew the other. McConvey, who missed the last nine games due to his recall to the Iowa Stars of the American Hockey League, extended his eight-game scoring streak with his helper.

Winger Garett Bembridge made the game 2-0 at 13:12 of the frame when he followed up McConvey's initial shot and swept the puck past Falcons' netminder Brett Jaeger (25 saves). Blake Forsyth also drew an assist on Bembridge's league leading 32nd goal of the season.

The Steelheads held the Falcons to just five second period shots, to help them lead 2-0 on the scoreboard and 23-18 in the shot department at the second intermission.

Another power play goal gave the Steelheads a 3-0 lead just 3:10 into the third period on Caponigri's eighth of the season and first in a Steelheads' sweater. Bararuk added the only assist. Those two hooked up again at 10:37 of the period to make it 4-0. This time Caponigri feathered a saucer pass to Bararuk who tipped the puck over Jaeger for his 15th of the campaign.

Forward Fraser Clair helped the Falcons avoid the shutout with his ninth marker of the year. Clair poked a loose puck from the side of the Steelheads net past a sprawled out Matt Yeats (22 saves). The power play goal, Clair's ninth of the year, was set up by Derek Krestanovich and Luke Curtin. The goal came at the 13:21 mark.

The Steelheads now own a 3-0-0 record against the Falcons this season, with six meetings left, including two more this weekend.

The puck drops at 7:10 p.m. MST on Saturday, January 21 as the Falcons are again at Qwest Arena. All the action can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1350 AM, KTIK "The Ticket" beginning approximately 20 minutes prior to the drop of the puck.

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ECHL Stories from January 20, 2006


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