Sports stats



ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Slip Past Thunder 4-3

March 15, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Stockton, CA - Derek Nesbitt's shorthanded, breakaway goal early in the third period turned out to be the game-winner, as the Steelheads hung on for a 4-3 win over the Stockton Thunder in front of 3,805 fans at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night.

The win is the Steelheads (34-21-2-3) 19th one-goal victory of the season and their 18th on the road, helping them snap their two-game losing streak. The loss meanwhile ends the Thunder's three-game winning streak (27-22-5-5).

The Steelheads got the only goal of the first period off the stick of Tuomas Mikkonen at the 4:39 mark. After cycling the puck down low in the Thunder zone, the B.J. Crombeen, who was reassigned by the Dallas Stars earlier in the day, found Mikkonen open at the right circles and he fired a shot behind Thunder goaltender Cam Ellsworth (26 saves) for his 13th marker of the season. Alexander Naurov gathered the second assist, which was his third point in four games since joining the Steelheads.

At 5:13 of the second stanza, Crombeen struck on the power play to give the Steelheads a 2-0 lead. Naurov and Marty Flichel snagged the assists on Crombeen's first of the campaign and the sixth of his brief ECHL career.

Midway through the frame, the Thunder cut the deficit in half on a five-on-three man advantage tally by a former Steelhead, Tim Verbeek. Verbeek took a long feed from defenseman Tim O'Connell, and on a mini breakaway, he snapped a shot from the right circles past the blocker of Steelheads' goaltender Steve Silverthorn (22 saves). Ellsworth picked up the second assist on the goal at 9:04, his first point of the season.

The Steelheads answered just over four minutes later on Mikkonen's second of the night. Taggart Desmet carried the puck into the Thunder zone along the left wing side and stopped at the goal line before finding Mikkonen open in the slot for a one-timer that beat Ellsworth five-hole. The power play tally was also set up defenseman Darrell Hay.

After two periods, the Steelheads led 3-1 and were out-shooting the Thunder 22-14.

It became a 4-1 contest at 4:17 of the third period when Nesbitt raced to a loose puck in the Thunder zone and ripped a snap shot past Ellsworth's blocker for his 24th of the campaign and the Steelheads' fifth on the man disadvantage.

Thunder winger Stepane Goulet abruptly cut the Steelheads lead to two, with a power play goal at 7:57, his 12th of the year. Defensemen Jason Beckett and Tim O'Connell picked up the helpers. Then with their goaltender pulled, Colin Pepperall chipped in his second goal, in just his third game, to get the Thunder to within one and round out the scoring. Brock Radunske and Beckett contributed the helpers.

The final shots favored the Steelheads at 30-25, while both teams finished with two power play markers. Silverthorn's win is his 30th, which leads the ECHL. Ellsworth suffered the loss, his 12th.

The Steelheads continue their four-game road swing against the Thunder on Friday, March 16. The puck drops at 8:30 p.m. MST. Don't forget, Steelheads' single game tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling 331-TIXS, by visiting www.idahosteelheads.com or by stopping by the Qwest Arena box office.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from March 15, 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.

Other Recent Idaho Steelheads Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central