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ECHL Idaho Steelheads

STEELHEADS: Linsmayer on Fire - Linsmayer Scores Twice

December 17, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Linsmayer on Fire - Linsmayer Scores Twice, Steelheads Top Rush
Linsmayer on Fire - Linsmayer Scores Twice, Steelheads Top Rush
(Idaho Steelheads, Credit: Steve Conner )

Boise, ID (12/17/16)- Rob Linsmayer notched his first multi-goal game of the season and the Idaho Steelheads (15-9-3) won their second straight game, defeating the Rapid City Rush (8-13-5) 5-2 at CenturyLink Arena in front of 4,768 fans and taking two of three in their final home series of 2016.

Linsmayer scored early in the first period to erase a 1-0 Rush lead and then tallied again in the second period to extend the Steelheads' lead to 4-1. Anthony Luciani had three assists for the night, his second three-point performance of the season.

Just 1:28 into the game, and after a flurry of Steelheads chances down the opposite end, Brenden Walker snapped a quick wrister to beat Idaho's Branden Komm to the blocker side and give Rapid City the early 1-0 lead. It was Walker's second goal and seventh point of the series, also his tenth point in the past five games.

After Rapid City goaltender Adam Morrison stopped Linsmayer's initial attempt on a 2-on-1 rush with Anthony Luciani, Linsmayer collected his own rebounded, skated it out from behind the goal line, and banked a back-hander off of Morrison to tie the game 1-1 at 12:57 of the first period.

Idaho outshot the Rush 23 -10 in the first period, their highest shot total for a single period this season.

At 3:32 of the second period, the Steelheads pulled ahead on Travis Walsh's fifth goal of the season and second in as many games. Walsh shot the puck from the outside of the left face-off circle, finding space over Morrison's glove to give Idaho a 2-1 lead.

Luciani earned his second assist of the night 10:04 later with a back-hand saucer pass through the neutral zone, springing Connor Chatham on a partial breakaway as he crossed the blue line. Chatham finished short-side over Morrison's left shoudler for his second of the season and a 3-1 Steelheads lead.

At 16:53 of the second period, Linsmayer buried his second of the night when Rapid City's Anthony Collins accidentally shot the puck on his own goal, Linsmayer potting the rebound for his seventh goal of the season. Luciani earned his third assist of the game on the goal.

Terrence Wallin answered back for the Rush at 18:49 of the period, gloving down a clearing attempt, shooting the puck from the left face-off circle, and collecting the rebound to cut the Steelheads' lead to 4-2. It was Wallin's second goal in two games.

Moments after the Steelheads' fourth successful penalty kill of the night, Travis Ewanyk finished a 2-on-1 with Kyle Jean for his team-leading 11th goal of the season, giving Idaho a 5-2 lead. Ewanyk has 16 points in his last 15 games for Idaho.

The Steelheads head out on the road for a two-game series against the Allen Americans prior to Christmas, their first visit to Allen since last year's playoffs. Idaho is five points back of the first-place Colorado Eagles in the Mountain Division.

Puck-drop is scheduled for 6:05pm MT at Allen Event Center on Thursday night, with the game available on 1350KTIK and ECHLTV.

STEELHEADS STATS: Goals: Linsmayer (6,7), Walsh (5), Chatham (2), Ewanyk (11) Branden Komm: 27 saves on 29 shots Power Play: 0-for-2 Penalty Kill: 4-for-4

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Rob Linsmayer IDH

2. Anthony Luciani IDH

3. Travis Ewanyk IDH

COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME Rob Linsmayer: 2 goals, plus-1 rating, 4 shots

PLAY OF THE GAME: One of the game's wackiest plays became Rob Linsmayer's second goal of the night. After Anthony Luciani sent a pass to the front of the net from the right circle, the puck was partially deflected and rolled between the circles. Rapid City's Anthony Collins, hoping to sweep the puck to the corner, instead threw it right at his own net and forced goaltender Adam Morrison to scramble for a surprise save. The rebound spilled to Linsmayer, who tucked it into an open net.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics




Images from this story

Linsmayer on Fire - Linsmayer Scores Twice, Steelheads Top Rush
Linsmayer on Fire - Linsmayer Scores Twice, Steelheads Top Rush
(Steve Conner )		   



ECHL Stories from December 17, 2016


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