ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Fall To Wranglers 4-2

December 28, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Las Vegas, NV - T.J. McElroy and Lance Galbraith tallied power play goals for the Steelheads, but it wasn't enough as the Wranglers used markers from four different skaters to take a 4-2 decision from Orleans Arena on Thursday night.

The loss snaps the Steelheads (12-10-7) two-game winning streak over the Wranglers (21-3-4) and drops them to 1-6-2 on the road this season heading into the second game of their current seven-game road trip.

Late in the first period the Wranglers took a 1-0 lead via a five-on-three man advantage. Peter Ferraro set up Aaron Power's fifth of the season and his second against the Steelheads, as the fifth-year defender fired a shot from the high slot that beat a screened Steve Silvethorn (28 saves) for the Wranglers eighth power play goal of the season series.

Through one period the Wranglers led 1-0, while they out-shot the Steelheads 10-4.

The Wranglers took a 2-0 lead on an end-to-end rush by defenseman Jason Krischuk, which resulted in his second goal of the season. Krischuk grabbed the puck from his goaltender Daniel Manzato (22 saves) and carried the puck through center before blasting a slap shot over the blocker of Silverthorn from the blue line.

The Steelheads answered with a power play tally just over two minutes later on McElroy's third goal of the campaign and his first in a Steelheads' sweater to make the score 2-1. On the play, the Steelheads won an offensive zone face-off back to McElroy who moved to the middle of the ice before firing a shot through traffic and past Manzato. Matt Craig, who won the draw back, and Alexander Naurov recorded the helpers.

Aki Seitsonen restored the Wranglers two-goal advantage heading into the second intermission, just as a Steelheads' power play expired. Tyler Mosienko tracked down a loose puck in the offensive zone and fed Seitsonen who snapped a shot off the post to the right of Silvethorn before caroming off the netminder's back and just over the goal line.

In the third period the Wranglers had a goal disallowed because of a high sticking penalty to Krischuk, which resulted in a four-minute Steelheads' power play. Early in the man advantage Galbraith skated the puck out from the right wing corner and wristed a shot from the goal line that glanced off Manzato and into back of the net for his 10th goal of the year. Mark Bomersback and Marty Flichel picked up the assists on the marker that made it 3-2.

With five seconds left in the contest, Sean Owens registered an empty-net goal, his fifth of the year, and his third against the Steelheads to seal the home team's 4-2 win.

The final shots favored the Wranglers 32-24. The Steelheads finished the night with two goals on 10 power play chances, with the 10 opportunities equaling a season high. The Wranglers went one-for-six on the power play. Silverthorn's loss ended his four-game unbeaten streak and drops his record to 5-6-4, while Manzato improves to 12-1-1.

The Steelheads continue their current three games in three nights stretch with a tilt against the Wranglers on Friday, December 28. The puck drops at 8:05 p.m. MST. All the action can be heard live on 1350 AM, KTIK "The Ticket" or via the B2 Networks. Don't forget, Steelheads' single-game tickets can be purchased via www.idahosteelheads.com (using the print-at-home feature), by calling 331-TIXS or from the Qwest Arena box office.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 28, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central