ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Fall To Stockton, 5-1

December 31, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID- The Idaho Steelheads (22-8-2) fell for the third consecutive game as the Stockton Thunder (13-14-3) knocked off Idaho for the first time in 10 tries this season by a 5-1 score at Qwest Arena. Michael Neal registered Idaho's only goal in the losing effort.

The first period had the looks of a goaltenders' duel before Stockton's Judd Blackwater found a loose puck in front of the Steelheads' net and fired the puck along the ice to beat Idaho's Rejean Beauchemin at 19:18 of the opening period.

The Thunder extended its lead to 2-0 at 7:16 of the second period when Chris D'Alvise took a pass from Justin Dacosta, walked into the high slot, and fired a wrist shot top-shelf on Beauchemin.

Michael Neal tapped a puck home from the front of the net to put the Steelheads on the board and cut the Stockton lead in half at 8:35 of the second period; Marty Flichel and Mark Derlago assisted on Neal's fourth of the season. Neal's goal was the only one of the 22 Steelheads shots to beat Stockton's Bryan Pitton in the middle frame.

Before the period could end, however, Jason Pitton scored his seventh of the season for Stockton, redirecting home a Dacosta point shot to put the Thunder back in front by a pair.

The third period saw the Thunder register two additional goals; one from D'Alvise at 6:23, and an empty-netter from Jean-Francois Caudron to secure the 5-1 win for the Thunder.

TONIGHT'S AQUAFINA THREE STARS:

1. CHRIS D'ALVISE (STK)

2. JUSTIN DACOSTA (STK)

3. MICHAEL NEAL (IDH)

TONIGHT'S COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: MICHAEL NEAL (IDH)

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 31, 2009


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