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ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Downed By Thunder 6-5 on Thanksgiving

November 24, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Stockton, CA - Steelheads' defenseman Mike Gabinet netted two man advantage goals, and the Steelheads scored four times on the power play overall in a losing effort, as they fell to the Stockton Thunder 6-5 on Thanksgiving at Stockton Arena.

The Steelheads (9-3-1-1) got multiple point efforts from four skaters in the loss, as the Thunder (10-1-1-1) remains unbeaten on home ice at 5-0-0-0. The Thunder have taken six of a possible eight points from the Steelheads in the season series, with four meetings remaining, including one on Saturday night.

Seventy seconds into the contest, Tyler Spurgeon gave the Thunder a 1-0 lead on a turnover deep in the Steelheads' defensive zone by goaltender Steve Silverthorn (26 saves). Tim Verbeek got the only assist, as he intercepted Silverthorn's clearing attempt and found Spurgeon alone in the slot.

The Steelheads got even at 3:43 on a power play goal by Derek Nesbitt, his eighth marker of the season and his sixth tally on the road. Defenseman Darrell Hay sent the puck to Nesbitt at the right circles, where he fired a one-timer past Thunder goaltender Cam Ellsworth (27 saves). Marty Flichel got the other assist.

Taggart Desmet then gave the Steelheads a 2-1 lead with his first goal of the season at 6:21 of the opening period. Charlie Johnson and Colin Peters set up the power play marker.

Minutes later, with the Steelheads on another power play, the Thunder tied the game with a shorthanded goal. Steve Slonina got the puck to Verbeek who raced into the Steelheads' zone leading a three-on-one rush before feeding the puck to defenseman Beau Geisler. The aerial pass caromed off Geisler's body and into the net at 9:45 of the period. Forty-two seconds later, while on the same man advantage, Gabinet beat Ellsworth with a shot from the left circles to give the Steelheads a 3-2 lead, as Nesbitt and Hay got the helpers.

The Thunder tied the game at three with a power play goal of their own at 12:28, on Mike Lalonde's sixth of the campaign. Brendon Hodge and Nathan Martz got the assists.

At the first intermission, the shots favored the Thunder, 16-10.

The offensive outburst continued in the second period, as the Thunder opened the second period with two goals in the first 4:09. At 2:26, Tim Sestito tallied his fourth, with Martz and Lalonde getting assists. The Thunder made it 5-3 on Troy Bodie's seventh of the year, with defenseman Tim O'Connell registering the lone assist.

At 9:54 of the second period, Scott Burt got the Steelheads to within one, with a breakaway goal, his fifth of the year. Burt snuck behind the defense on the left wing side, took a pass from Greg Rallo and beat Ellsworth with a backhander to make it 5-4. Defenseman Cody Blanshan also got an assist.

Just under two minutes later the Steelheads tied the contest on Gabinet's second of the night and third of the season. Flichel and Lance Galbraith drew the helpers on the Steelheads' fourth power play tally of the night, setting a new season high.

Geisler got his second of the evening and fourth of the season at 16:42 of the second period, to round out the scoring. The power play, which was Geisler's first game-winner of the season, was set up by Martz and Lalonde.

There was no scoring in the third period, and the final shots were even at 32. Silverthorn saw his record slip to 9-2-1-1, while Ellsworth improves to 4-0-1-0. The Steelheads finished four-for-eight on the power play, while the Thunder went two-for-nine.

The Steelheads play their fourth straight game on the road on Friday, November 24 versus the Fresno Falcons. Faceoff is at 8:00 p.m. MST. Steelheads' single-game tickets can be purchased via www.idahosteelheads.com (using the all-new, print-at-home feature), by calling 331-TIXS or from the Qwest Arena box office.

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