Steelheads Cough Up Third Period Lead In 4-3 Loss To Falcons
March 10, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
Boise, ID - Despite a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes of play, the Steelheads couldn't hold on, as the Fresno Falcons rallied for a 4-3 win in front of 4,816 fans at Qwest Arena on Saturday night.
With the loss, the 4th seeded Steelheads (33-21-2-3) dropped the final two games of the three-game series to the 5th placed Falcons (32-22-2-3) and now stand just two points ahead of them for home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The Falcons furious comeback started just 36 seconds into the final period on a goal by Brett Hammond. Hammond got to the carom off John Wroblewski's missed wrist shot and beat Steelheads' goaltender Steve Silverthorn (32 saves) for his seventh tally this season. Defenseman Cory Murphy picked up the second helper.
At 5:18 of the third, Wroblewski netted his 18th, with Hammond and Murphy collecting the assists on the man advantage marker that deadlocked the game at three. Then, with just 1:13 left in regulation, and the Falcons on another power play, Luke Curtin sent a shot along the ice from the right circles that skipped underneath the pads of a screened Silverthorn for the Falcons first lead, 4-3. John Morlang and Murphy chipped in the assists on Curtin's 19th, and second of the series.
The defeat marked the first time in 24 games that the Steelheads lost in regulation after leading at the second intermission.
Steelheads' defenseman Darrell Hay opened the game's scoring with a shot from the left circles that handcuffed Falcons' goaltender Scott Stirling (24 saves) to give the Steelheads a 1-0 lead. Jeremy Yablonski and Alexander Naurov drew the assists on the even-strength marker, Hay's ninth, at 4:45.
Just 87 seconds later, Brian McConnell came off the Falcons' bench and grabbed a loose puck in the Steelheads slot allowing him to rip a shot past Silverthorn for his fifth of the year. Morlang, who registered three points last night, caused havoc in the Steelheads' defensive zone long enough for McConnell to come in and help. Defenseman P.O. Beaulieu got the second assist.
At 9:57 of the first period, Steelheads' winger Derek Nesbitt converted on the power play, blasting a one-timer from the right circles past Stirling for a 2-1 advantage. Hay and Lance Galbraith set up his 23rd of the season.
Late in the stanza, Tuomas Mikkonen gathered his third goal of the series and his fourth point as he tipped home Kory Scoran's point shot for a power play marker, his 12th of the season. Veteran winger Scott Burt picked up the second assist, feeding the puck to Scoran at the left point. Burt has now picked up at least one point in six of the last seven outings, as the Steelheads took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
There was no scoring in the second frame. In the 20-minute segment, the Falcons notched 15 shots to the Steelheads 10.
For the night, the Falcons out-shot the Steelheads 36-28, as both teams cashed in for two power play goals. Silverthorn suffered the loss to drop to 29-14-2-3, while Stirling earned his 14th victory.
The Steelheads now hit the road for four games beginning on Wednesday, March 14 against the Stockton Thunder. The puck drops at 8:10 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 or by stopping by the Qwest Arena box office.
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