ECHL Idaho Steelheads

STEELHEADS: Steelheads' Surge Falls Short in Colorado

Published on December 7, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Steelheads' Surge Falls Short in Colorado
Steelheads' Surge Falls Short in Colorado
(Idaho Steelheads, Credit: Standout Imagery )

Loveland, CO (12/7/16) - The Idaho Steelheads (13-7-2) scored three unanswered goals in the third period Wednesday night at Budweiser Events Center, but it wasn't enough to overcome a three-goal first period by Colorado, as the Eagles (12-6-4) held off the Steelheads, 5-4.

Travis Walsh notched the first two-goal game of his pro career, scoring twice in the third period to help fuel Idaho's comeback effort. Already trailing 5-1 at 6:09 of the third period, Rob Linsmayer had a shot from the high slot blocked. The loose puck bounced to the top of the left circle, with Walsh stepping in and firing a slap shot past Clarke Saunders for his third of the season.

Anthony Luciani made it 5-3 at 9:36 of the third, blasting a one-time drive from the top of the right circle past Colorado relief goaltender Nathan Lieuwen for his seventh of the year and third on the power play. At 16:35 it was Walsh again, driving down the right wing with a great individual effort. Walsh put the puck into his own feet before pulling it out to zip around a defender and flick a backhander on net from just above the goal line, banking it in off of Lieuwen to make it 5-4.

The Steelheads pulled the goaltender in the final minutes but couldn't find the equalizer.

Colorado scored the game's first four goals, three of them coming in the opening period. Darryl Bootland's power play deflection at 8:07 of the first made it 1-0 Eagles, and Matt Register's backdoor tap-in two minutes later off of a pretty feed from Luke Salazar put Colorado ahead by two.

With 1:48 left in the first period, Josh Nichols netted his third goal in five games with the Eagles to make it 3-0, a wrister right off the face-off from the inside hash mark.

Jesse Mychan jammed home his 13th goal of the season on the power play just 25 seconds into the second period, lifting starter Philippe Desrosiers from the game. Caleb Herbert would net a power play goal from the left circle at 11:17 of the second period to get Idaho on the board at 4-1. Ryan Harrison would score at the side of the Steelheads' net with 1:22 left in the second, making it 5-1.

With 13:36 remaining and the Steelheads trailing 5-2, Teigan Zahn engaged with Caleb Herbert in the Colorado zone, Zahn swinging away while Herbert did not. Zahn received five minutes for fighting while Herbert received the original two minute penalty for head contact. After that fight calmed down, goaltender Branden Komm, in to relieve Desrosiers, and Saunders met at center ice and dropped the gloves. Both landed a shot and both fell to the ice before they were settled to end the fight. Both headed to the dressing room, with Desrosiers returning to the game and Lieuwen coming in for Colorado.

Desrosiers made 14 saves in 32:45 of work on the night. Komm made 14 stops in 25:59.

Wednesday was just the second time this season the Steelheads have surrendered multiple power play goals in the same game, the other coming the last time they played the Eagles on November 5th. With the win on Wednesday, the Eagles leaped over Idaho for first place in the Mountain Division.

The Steelheads and Eagles face off again on Friday, with puck-drop scheduled for 7:05pm MT. The game is available on 1350AM KTIK and ECHLTV.

STEELHEADS STATS:

Goals: Herbert (4), Walsh (3,4), Luciani (7)

Philippe Desrosiers: 14 saves on 18 shots; Branden Komm: 14 saves on 15 shots

Power Play: 2-for-6

Penalty Kill: 1-for-3

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Matt Register COL

2. Ryan Harrison COL

3. Jesse Mychan COL

COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME

Travis Walsh: First professional two-goal game, plus-2 rating

PLAY OF THE GAME:

The Steelheads found their best hockey legs in the third period and almost came back to tie, making the eventual game-winner by the Eagles all the more important to the game. With under two minutes left in the second period, the Steelheads were unable to clear the puck with Matt Register holding in at the left point for Colorado. Register whipped a pass down to the side of the net where Casey Pierro-Zabotel and Ryan Harrison were on either side of Branden Komm with Corbin Baldwin alone in between. Pierro-Zabotel sauced a pass across to Harrison over Baldwin's stick and Komm had no chance. A fairly innocent looking defensive zone sequence became an in-close 2-on-1 and a fifth goal the Steelheads could not match.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics

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Images from this story

Steelheads' Surge Falls Short in Colorado
Steelheads' Surge Falls Short in Colorado
(Standout Imagery )		 Steelheads' Surge Falls Short in Colorado
Steelheads' Surge Falls Short in Colorado
(Standout Imagery )		  



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