ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Drop Series-Opener in Wheeling

Published on March 23, 2017 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Steelheads Drop Series-Opener in Wheeling
Steelheads Drop Series-Opener in Wheeling
(Idaho Steelheads, Credit: Zach Rawson)

Wheeling, WV- Will Merchant netted his 12th power play goal of the season but it wasn't enough on Wednesday night at WesBanco Arena, as the Wheeling Nailers (32-25-8) skated past the Idaho Steelheads (36-21-7) by a 4-1 score in Idaho's first ever visit to Wheeling.

Tyler Currier scored twice for the Nailers and Nick Sorkin had three assists to drive the Nailer offense. Wheeling, protecting a 2-1 lead, tacked on two third-period goals against Branden Komm to put the game away and extend the Nailers' points streak to five straight games (3-0-2)

The Nailers opened the scoring at 10:02 of the first period on a 3-on-2 rush, when Kale Kerbashian's drop-pass between the circles found Currier for his 17th of the season and a 1-0 Wheeling lead. The Steelheads responded 1:30 later on the power play when Rob Linsmayer skated below the right-wing circle and fed Merchant between the hash-marks for Merchant's 19th goal of the year to tie the game. Jefferson Dahl also earned an assist on the goal to extend his points streak to eight games.

Wheeling took the lead right back 4:20 after Merchant's tally with a power play goal of their own. Komm made an initial save on a one-timer from Sorkin at the right face-off dot, but the rebound kicked right out to Cody Wydo in the slot for his 29th goal of the season, and league-leading 15th on the power play, for a 2-1 Wheeling lead.

The score remained 2-1 until 15:14 of the third period, when the Nailers expanded their lead off of strong forecheck work. Sorkin received a pass behind the net from Wydo and wrapped it to the front of the Idaho net, sliding a pass through the crease to Daniel Leavens on the back-door for the tap-in.

Leavens played his first professional game after finishing his college career at Robert Morris University, and he buried his first career goal to make it a 3-1 game. Currier would finish off the scoring with an empty-net goal with 12 seconds remaining.

Sean Maguire made some of his best saves in the first period, including a 2-on-0 stop on Anthony Luciani. Maguire stopped 20 of 21 shots to earn his 12th win of the season, while Komm's record fell to 16-13-3.

The Steelheads and Nailers continue their series on Friday night at WesBanco Arena, with puck-drop scheduled for 5:35MT. The game is available on 1350AM KTIK and on ECHLTV.

STEELHEADS STATS:

Goals: Merchant (19)

Braden Komm: 30 saves on 33 shots

Power Play: 1-for-3

Penalty Kill: 1-for-2

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Daniel Leavens WHL

2. Cody Wydo WHL

3. Tyler Currier WHL

COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME

Nick Sorkin: 3 assists, 3 shots, plus-2 rating

PLAY OF THE GAME:

Daniel Leavens was effective in his professional debut for the Nailers, and his goal late in the third period would give the Nailers the insurance to put the game away. Nick Sorkin won an offensive zone face-off for the Nailers, and then Sorkin, Leavens, and Cody Wydo went on the forecheck. Sorkin forced one turnover to feed Wydo in front, a shot that missed the net. The Nailers retrieved the puck again quickly, with Wydo feeding a puck from the near corner to Sorkin alone behind the Idaho cage. The Steelheads couldn't recover their positioning before Sorkin fed Leavens for his first goal in his first game, giving Idaho a two-goal hill they could not overcome.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics

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Images from this story

Steelheads Drop Series-Opener in Wheeling
Steelheads Drop Series-Opener in Wheeling
(Zach Rawson)		   



ECHL Stories from March 23, 2017


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