ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Rally But Fall to the Condors, 5-4, in the Shootout

Published on February 18, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Bakersfield, California - Trailing by four goals late in the first period, the Steelheads fought back, before falling 5-4 in a sudden death shootout to the Bakersfield Condors on Friday night at Rabobank Arena.

The sixth shooter for the home club, forward Mike Hofstrand, was able to net the game-winner, as the Condors (22-18-5) won the shootout 2-1 to beat the Steelheads (27-16-7). It's now the second time in the last four games the Condors have edged the Steelheads in the shootout. The Steelheads remain unbeaten on this six-game road trip at 1-0-1.

Just 24 seconds into the contest, Condors forward Mathieu Brunelle slipped a shot past Steelheads' goaltender Matt Yeats (36 saves), giving the home team the early lead. Defenseman Reagan Leslie got the only assist on Brunelle's 13th of the season. Less than two minutes later, Andrew Ianiero made it 2-0. Ianiero took a feed at the bottom of the right circles and pushed the puck into the empty cage for his ninth of the season. Winger Joel Irving found Ianiero wide open and sent him a pass from the far boards. Brunelle also assisted on the marker.

Later in the first period, the Condors connected on two power play goals to make the score 4-0. First Scott Balan blasted a shot from the point that found the twine, with Brunelle and Hofstrand collecting the helpers. Hofstrand added a goal of his own at 13:16 of the opening stanza, with Irving and Leslie drawing the assists on the Condors second straight man advantage goal.

B.J. Crombeen scored his third goal in a Steelheads' sweater with just eight seconds left in the period to give the Steelheads some life heading into intermission. Winger Paul Caponigri moved into the Condors' zone on the left wing side and slipped a nifty pass to Crombeen at the bottom of the circles. Crombeen was able to cut out in front of the crease and flip the puck over goaltender Ryan Munce (56 saves). Tyler Kindle also added an assist on the goal that made the game 4-1.

The Steelheads continued to battle back in the second period, as D'Arcy McConvey recorded a pair of power play goals. David Bararuk and Garett Bembridge set up both of the goals, the 23rd and 24th of the season for the Steelheads captain, and the visitors had the deficit to one.

Midway through the third period, Crombeen's second of the game completed the comeback, as Caponigri again set up his goal. The rest of regulation and overtime were scoreless, as the final shots were 60-40 in favor of the Steelheads. Late in overtime, defenseman Kevin Truelson was awarded a penalty shot, but Yeats denied him with a left pad save, essentially sending the game to the shootout.

The second game of the two-game set in Bakersfield is Saturday, February 18. The puck drops at 8:10 p.m. MST. All the action can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1350 AM, "The Ticket," beginning approximately 20 minutes before the drop of the puck. For tickets, call 208-331-TIXS.

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ECHL Stories from February 18, 2006


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