ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads drop season finale to Condors, 4-3

Published on April 10, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


BAKERSFIELD, California - The Idaho Steelheads closed out the 2004-05 regular season with a 4-3 loss to the Bakersfield Condors Saturday night. The back-to-back losses in Bakersfield mark the Steelheads' first two-game losing streak since late January (1/22 vs. Bakersfield, 1/28 at Alaska). Idaho finishes the season seeded third in the Western Conference, and will open the Kelly Cup Playoffs at second-seeded Long Beach Wednesday.

The Condors struck first, tallying two early goals in the first period. Mathieu Brunelle lit the lamp at 5:30, playing the puck off the boards behind the Idaho goal and firing it into an open net for his third goal in two games against Idaho. Just :29 later, Paul Rosebush connected to give the Condors the two goal lead. The first period ended 2-0 Bakersfield.

Idaho got on the board quickly in the second frame. At 1:12 Tim Verbeek's ninth of the season, from Scott Burt, cut the home team's lead in half. The Steelheads tied the score with a nice goal by Mike Stutzel, who received the pass from defenseman Jonathan Zion and beat Condors goaltender Davis Parley at 3:52. But the tie didn't last long, as Brunelle reversed the puck behind the Idaho net and set up Sylvain Deschatelets who beat Matt Yeats to regain the lead for Bakersfield at 5:57.

Idaho had several chances to tie the game in the third period, but was denied by Parley, who made several good saves in traffic. Bakersfield regained the two-goal advantage at 12:47 when Brett Lutes blasted a rebound past Yeats, who made the initial save on Deschatelets's shot on a two-on-one, but Lutes was all alone for the Condors' fourth goal. Brunelle also picked up an assist, giving him three points in the game. Idaho drew back to within one when Ben Keup poked home the puck in a scramble in front of the Condors' net at 19:36. With the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Idaho was unable to control the puck and time ran out on the regular season finale.

Idaho opens the best-of-five playoff series at Long Beach on Wednesday night. Game 2 is also in Southern California, with the third game at the Bank of America Centre Friday night at 7:10 MDT. Tickets for Game 3 go on sale Monday, April 11th at 10:00 a.m. at the Bank of America Centre Box Office, by visiting any Select-A-Seat outlet, by calling 331-TIXS (8497), or through the Steelheads website by logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com.

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