STEELHEADS: Game Day Storylines- at Colorado
December 9, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
(13-7-2-0) (4-4-1-0 Road) (12-6-1-3) (7-3-0-2 Home)
Steel Reel
The Steelheads continue their three-game series in Colorado on Friday night, looking to bounce back from a 5-4 loss on Wednesday to the Eagles. That defeat dropped the Steelheads to second place in the Mountain Division, while the Eagles flew to the front of the pack. Idaho is 2-1-0 this season against the Eagles, all three meetings played at Budweiser Events Center.
Idaho battled back from 4-0 and 5-1 deficits on Wednesday, scoring three goals in the third period to pull within a goal. Rookie defenseman Travis Walsh had two points in the period, firing a shot redirected by Kellan Lain to make it 5-2 and then scoring on a right-wing rush to make it 5-4. Idaho also received power play goals from Caleb Herbert and Anthony Luciani.
Similar Strides...
The Steelheads and Eagles match up evenly heading into their 23rd games of the season. Each team has 28 points, with the Eagles leading thanks to a greater number of regulation and overtime wins. The Steelheads and Eagles both have 75 goals scored this year, and Idaho has given up one fewer goal with 69 scored against. The Eagles are 6-3-1 in their last ten games while Idaho is 7-2-1. One of the few areas that distinctly separate the two squads is their shootout records, where Idaho is 4-0 but Colorado is 0-3.
Lain Gains...
Kellan Lain has goals in back-to-back games, both coming via deflections in front of the net. The tallies were his first points in six games since returning from AHL Bakersfield on November 25th. Lain scored the "Teddy Bear Goal" on Saturday night against the Alaska Aces on a deflection of a Charlie Dodero shot, then parked in front to redirect Travis Walsh's slap shot from the left point on Wednesday. The Steelheads will count on Lain to continue his production, as forward Caleb Herbert was recalled to AHL Texas on Thursday after a two-point night on Wednesday.
K.O.mm...
Branden Komm came into Wednesday night's game in relief of Philippe Desrosiers 25 seconds into the second period, but he did not finish the game after a scrap between he and Colorado goalie Clarke Saunders ended both of their nights early at 6:24 of the third period. The tilt was the first of Komm's professional career, and the second for Saunders. Rough stuff aside, Komm stopped 14 of 15 shots, actually picking up a hard-luck loss after the Steelheads comeback effort made Komm's one goal against the game-winner. Komm is 3-1-1 in his last five appearances with a .912 save percentage.
Power Wings...
The Eagles netted two power play goals on Wednesday, only the second time this season the Steelheads penalty kill has surrendered multiple goals in the same game. The other instance was the previous meeting between these teams on November 5th in Loveland. Among the power play goal-scorers was Jesse Mychan, his third goal this season against Idaho and his 13th of the season, ranked third in the league. Casey Pierro-Zabotel also tacked on a power play assist push his points total to 27 this season. Matt Register had a power play assist as part of a three-point night, including a goal, and is now second among defensemen in scoring.
Idaho Leaders Eagles Leaders
Goals: Ewanyk (8) Goals: Mychan (13)
Assists: Dahl (16) Assists: Pierro-Zabotel (18)
Points: Dahl (23) Points: Pierro-Zabotel (27)
Plus/Minus: Four tied (+4) Plus/Minus: Register (+10)
Power Play Goals: Merchant (5) Power Play Goals: Three tied (3)
Goals-Against Average: Komm (2.72) Goals-Against Average: Saunders (2.67)
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from December 9, 2016
- Gladiators Unable to Finish Comeback, Fall 4-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Game Recap: Camara's Two-Goal Night Not Enough for Wings on Road - Kalamazoo Wings
- Skoff's First Career Shutout Guides Floridato a 1-0 Victory - Florida Everblades
- Auger, Fucale Lead Beast to a 4-2 Win over Nailers - Brampton Beast
- Thunder Blanked in First Meeting vs. Allen - Wichita Thunder
- Solar Bears Grind out Another Road Win in 4-2 Victory - Orlando Solar Bears
- Monarchs Win Fourth-Straight, Sink Admirals, 5-3 - Manchester Monarchs
- Mavericks Defeat Oilers on Teddy Bear Toss Night in Tulsa - Tulsa Oilers
- Royals Explode for Eight against Indy, 8-2 - Reading Royals
- Mavericks Grind out Road Win in Tulsa - Kansas City Mavericks
- Cyclones Drop Heartbeaker in Overtime - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Brassart Gives Mallards 4-3 Overtime Win in Cincinnati - Quad City Mallards
- Jackals Shut out by Everblades - Elmira Jackals
- Indy Routed by Royals in Game 1 of Doubleheader - Indy Fuel
- Beast Prevail with Special Teams Success - Wheeling Nailers
- Rays Blanked by Swamp Rabbits - South Carolina Stingrays
- Monarchs Four-Goal Second Drowns Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Nailers Loan Nick Sorkin to San Diego Gulls - Wheeling Nailers
- Mavericks Sign Matt Robertson - Kansas City Mavericks
- ECHL Transactions - December 9 - ECHL
- Americans Face Wichita for the First Time this Season - Allen Americans
- Cyclones Game Notes: vs Quad City - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Nailers at Beast Game Day Snap Shot, December 9 - Wheeling Nailers
- Walleye Celebrity Sundays - Toledo Walleye
- STEELHEADS: Game Day Storylines- at Colorado - Idaho Steelheads
- Reading Royals (ECHL) Transactions: Lamarche - Swavely Loaned To Reading - Reading Royals
- Mavericks Game Preview - December 9 at Tulsa - Kansas City Mavericks
- Game Preview: Orlando Solar Bears at Atlanta Gladiators - Orlando Solar Bears
- Four Added to Gladiators Roster - Atlanta Gladiators
- Jackals Eye Revenge in Rematch with Everblades - Elmira Jackals
- Mallards Game Day - Quad City Mallards
- Monarchs Game Day Capsule - Manchester Monarchs
- Do You Have Your Teddy Bear for the Game Tonight? - Tulsa Oilers
- Leach Returns to Hershey - South Carolina Stingrays
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.
