ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Double Up Salmon Kings 6-3

November 18, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Four first period goals fueled the Steelheads (10-3-0) to another resounding victory, as they doubled up the Salmon Kings, 6-3, on Friday night in front of 4,427 fans at the Saveon Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria. The Steelheads who are tied with the Utah Grizzlies atop the West Division standings with 20 points are the first team in the ECHL with 10 wins.

The visitors came out on fire in the opening period, notching the first 14 shots of the contest, while taking a 3-0 lead. It took 11:23 before the Salmon Kings registered a shot, with the Steelheads holding a 22-9 shot advantage after 20 minutes of play, including a four-goal cushion on the scoreboard.

Victoria native Mike Stutzel opened the game's scoring at 8:32 with his seventh of the season. Garett Bembridge got the only assist on Stutzel's second goal of the series. The flurry continued, as center David Bararuk, who was filling in for team captain captain D'Arcy McConvey on the top line, added a power play goal at 10:13. The goal marked the 10th straight game the Steelheads have added a man advantage marker.

Goals by Bembridge just 31 seconds after Bararuk tallied and by defenseman Jarad Bourassa 16:39, rounded out the first period scoring.

The Salmon Kings (4-8-1) potted the only goal in the second period, cutting the deficit to three after two periods of play. At 12:45 of the frame, Jade Galbraith picked up his third of the year, as forward Lanny Gare and defenseman Simon Mangos added the helpers.

Both teams picked up two goals in the third period, with the Steelheads getting the first pair. At 4:55 of the period, rookie center Kurt MacSweyn tallied his first professional goal on the power play. Forward Justin Cox got the only assist. Then British Columbia native Greg Hornby chipped in his first of the season, following up a Matt Reid shot to beat goaltender Lance Mayes to make the score 5-1. Center Brad Thompson added the other assist on the goal at 10:01.

Victoria rounded out the scoring with goals by Nathan Forster and Seth Leonard. Leonard, who scored on a penalty shot against Steve Silverthorn, now has two goals in the series. For Forster, it was his first of the year.

Silverthorn (4-1-1) made 23 saves for his third consecutive win, while B.J. Boxma (28 saves), who started for the Salmon Kings, dropped to 0-3-0 on the season.

For the second straight game of the series, Mayes did not start against the Steelheads, but came in to replace the original Salmon Kings' netminder.

Bembridge's three-point first period moved him past McConvey for the team lead in points. McConvey, who is up with the Iowa Stars, made his AHL debut tonight against the San Antonio Rampage. Furthermore, the newly formed top line for the Steelheads combined for three goals and six points in the game's first 10:34.

The Steelheads also tied season-high marks with their three power play goals in the game and their four-goal first period.

The Steelheads have won the first two games of this series by a combined score of 11-5. The two clubs square off again on Saturday with the opening faceoff scheduled for 8:05 p.m. MST.

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ECHL Stories from November 18, 2005


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