Steelheads Undone in Third Period Again
March 8, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
Boise, ID - Adam Hughesman scored twice in the third period, breaking a 2-2 tie and pushing the visiting Las Vegas Wranglers to a 4-2 win over the Idaho Steelheads in front of 4,647 fans at CenturyLink Arena.
For the second consecutive game, the Wranglers got game-winning goals in the final period after being out-shot and out-chanced all night by the home-standing Steelheads (29-22-7). The Steelheads out-shot the Wranglers, 35-30, on Friday night after out-shooting them, 39-26, on Wednesday.
Las Vegas scored early, capitalizing on a defensive-zone turnover as John Armstrong banged a loose puck past Josh Robinson at the 3:18 mark, an unassisted goal to give the Wranglers a 1-0 lead. The lead would double early in the second on the power play on a Charlie Cook shot from the left-wing circle at 4:27 to make it 2-0.
The Steelheads took over from there, dominating the remainder of the period. Idaho got on the board at 9:24 of the second when Mitch Wahl found Brock Montgomery on the doorstep for a quick tap goal, Montgomery's eighth of the season, to make it 2-1. Less than three minutes later, Idaho leveled the scoreboard on a hard-working goal as William Rapuzzi out-worked a pair of Wranglers to spring in on the rush. His initial shot was saved by Travis Fullerton but the rebound rolled right to Taylor Vause who put the puck inside the right-wing post at 12:01 to tie the game. Vause's goal was his ninth of the season, third in two games since being reassigned to Idaho by Texas of the American Hockey League. The home team would generate more chances, putting fifteen pucks on net in the period, but could not snap the tie before the period ended.
In the third, Hughesman finished a cross-ice pass from the bottom of the right-wing circle as a Wrangler power-play expired at 3:54 to put Las Vegas back on top, 3-2. After a couple of Idaho chances were denied, Las Vegas came up with a big insurance goal when Carlo Finucci's airborne clear got over Charlie Dodero's head and sat down nicely for Hughesman, whose left-wing wrist shot beat Robinson over the glove at 7:45 to make it 4-2.
Idaho tried to mount a comeback but Las Vegas was able to keep the ice level over the final 12 minutes to swipe another win over Idaho, who has now dropped a season-high four consecutive games.
Fullerton got the win, stopping 33 of 35 Idaho shots. Robinson took the loss with 26 saves on 30 shots. Each team had five power-play opportunities - Idaho came up empty while Las Vegas netted one power-play goal.
The two teams conclude their three-game set on Saturday night at CenturyLink Arenas as Idaho will again wear special jerseys against the Wranglers that will be auctioned off via silent auction to raise money for St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute. Tickets for all Idaho home games are available online at www.idahosteelheads.com or by calling 208-331-8497.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from March 8, 2014
- Royals Pull Away from Evansville, 5-1 - Reading Royals
- Road Warriors Get Redemption, Defeats Orlando 5-2 - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Gladiators Sweep the Weekend from Florida - Atlanta Gladiators
- K-Wings streak past Komets - Kalamazoo Wings
- Walleye Sink Cyclones in Shootout, 5-4 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Jackals Nipped In Overtime by Nailers - Elmira Jackals
- Solar Bears Streak Stopped in 5-2 Loss to Road Warriors - Orlando Solar Bears
- Nailers Score Another Comeback Win in Elmira - Wheeling Nailers
- Forward Josh Brittain Recalled from Reading to Hershey - Reading Royals
- Game Preview: Solar Bears at Greenville Road Warriors - Orlando Solar Bears
- Game Preview - Ontario Reign at Colorado Eagles - Ontario Reign
- ECHL Transactions - March 8 - ECHL
- Elmira Jackals Game Preview vs. Wheeling - Elmira Jackals
- Pacan Heads to Utica - Kalamazoo Wings
- Countdown to Face-Off: Kalamazoo Wings vs Fort Wayne Komets - Kalamazoo Wings
- ECHL Announces Fine - ECHL
- Nailers at Jackals Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- Thunder Begin Home Stand vs. Utah - Stockton Thunder
- Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati vs. Toledo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Sam Klassen Loaned to Portland - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Gauthier-Leduc, Weller Get the Call - Atlanta Gladiators
- Game Preview: Road Warriors vs. Solar Bears Saturday, March 8, 2014 - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- ECHL Today - March 8 - ECHL
- Coleman earns 1st shutout of season, helps tie club record - Alaska Aces
- Condors Lose Special Teams Battle and Game in Alaska - Bakersfield Condors
- Steelheads Undone in Third Period Again - Idaho Steelheads
- Wranglers Burn Idaho, Hot Streak Hits Three - Las Vegas Wranglers
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.
