ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Fall 7-3, As Salmon Kings' Special Teams Reign

October 29, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Victoria, BC - Despite trailing 5-0 early in the second period, the Steelheads rattled off three straight goals before eventually bowing out to the Salmon Kings, 7-3, as their season-long, four-game winning streak was halted Saturday night at the Saveon Foods Memorial Centre.

With the defeat, the Steelheads (4-1-0-0) finished their opening road trip gathering eight of a possible 10 points. On the other side, the Salmon Kings (1-3-0-1) three man advantage goals and one shorthanded marker proved to be the difference, as they notched their first win of the season

The home team scored the game's first goal, for the first time in the series, when Warren McCutcheon tallied at 7:19. McCutcheon took a feed from Ryan Wade and moved into the top of the left circles before firing a slap shot that deflected off of Steelheads' rookie goaltender John Daigneau's (4 saves) glove and into the back of the net. Adam Taylor also got an assist on McCutcheon's first goal of the season.

Just 2:02 later, during a rare three-on-three scenario, Salmon Kings' leading scorer Kiel McLeod blasted a shot over the glove of Daigneau for a 2-0 advantage. McLeod crisscrossed with winger Mike Stutzel as they approached the Steelheads' blue line before McLeod ripped a 40-footer for his fourth of the year. Defenseman Gustav Engman and Stutzel were credited with the helpers.

While on the power play, the Salmon Kings got their third goal from Milan Gajic at 15:36. Steve Lingren and goaltender Bryan Bridges (32 saves) set up the goal. Under two minutes later, defenseman Ryan Jorde sent Wes Goldie off on a shorthanded breakaway and he beat Daigneau over his glove hand for his second goal of the season, making the score 4-0 at the first intermission.

The shots were 18-8 in favor of the Steelheads after 20 minutes of play, yet they trailed by four. That was all the action Daigneau would see in his first professional, regular-season game as he was pulled in favor of Steve Silverthorn (19 saves). It was also the first time this season the Steelheads have allowed four goals in a period, an outcome that occurred four times in 2005-2006.

Early in the second period, McCutcheon's second of the night at 6:09 put the Salmon Kings in front 5-0.

The Steelheads got on the board at 12:05 of the middle frame, on Francis Wathier's first professional goal. The 6'4", Ontario native stripped the Salmon Kings defense and pulled away for a shorthanded breakaway from his own blue line. Wathier deked Bridges and lifted a backhander off the netminder and into the net.

At 17:03 of the period, the Steelheads made the score 5-2 on Derek Nesbitt's team-leading fourth goal of the season. Nesbitt batted Greg Rallo's feed out of mid air and past Bridges for his third goal of the series. Marty Flichel got an assist on the goal to extend his season-long point streak to five games.

The Steelheads would inch even closer at 6:42 of the third period on a power play goal by defenseman Colin Peters. Peters cut from the left point through the slot and slammed a pretty pass from Flichel past Bridges. Nesbitt got the other helper.

The Salmon Kings would put the game away, however, with a pair of power play goals late in the third period. Guenette scored at 15:10, while Goldie tallied in the game's closing minute on a five-on-three advantage.

The final shots favored the Steelheads, 35-30. The Salmon Kings went three-for-12 on the power play, while the Steelheads went one-for-seven. Goldie and Lingren both registered three points for the Salmon Kings, while Nesbitt and Flichel led the Steelheads with two points.

After a five-game, 10-day road trip, the Steelheads head to the friendly confines of Qwest Arena for their home opener on Friday, November 3 at 7:10 p.m. versus the Utah Grizzlies. Tickets for the home opener 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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