STEELHEADS: Wheeling and Dealing - Steelheads Top Nailers, Close In
March 25, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
Wheeling, WV (3/25/17)- Three goals late in the third period broke a 1-1 tie and fueled the Idaho Steelheads (38-21-7) to a 4-1 win over the Wheeling Nailers (32-27-8) on Saturday night at WesBanco Arena, as the Steelheads took two of three games in their series in Wheeling.
Jefferson Dahl netted the eventual game-winner with 5:56 left on the clock, while Brian Nugent and Anthony Luciani provided insurance as the Steelheads earned their 38th victory of the season, matching their total from last season with six games still to play on their schedule.
With the game tied 1-1, a shot towards the Wheeling net was blocked by Dahl as he cut across the low slot. Dahl stayed with the puck and carried it behind the net, feeding it to the slot for a Rob Linsmayer shot that was blocked and came to Dahl again behind the net again. Rather than force a puck back into the slot, Dahl walked the puck out from the near side just above the goal line and fired a sharp-angled shot over Nailer goaltender Doug Carr's short-side shoulder for his 20th goal of the season and a 2-1 Idaho lead. With an assist, Linsmayer extended his points streak to seven games.
At 17:13 the Steelheads struck again after Carr allowed a rebound on a shot from the left point by Aaron Harstad. Carr struggled to cover the loose puck, allowing Nugent to move in and slide it underneath the right pad for a 3-1 lead on Nugent's tenth of the season.
Luciani would cap the scoring with 11 seconds left, hitting an empty net from the neutral zone on a Steelheads power play for his 29th goal of the season. The tally set a new single-season career high for Luciani, who scored 28 during the 2014-15 season. It was also Luciani's 300th professional point, including his production last season playing in Europe.
Will Merchant got the Steelheads on the board 32 second into the second period after strong forecheck work by Dahl and Linsmayer forced a loose puck that Dahl feathered to the slot for Merchant to step into a one-timer. The blast past Carr's blocker was the 20th goal of the season for the Steelheads' rookie.
Wheeling scored their lone goal at 8:15 of the third period to tie the game 1-1, a Gage Quinney wrap-around that beat Landon Bow for his 18th goal of the year. Bow made 23 stops to earn his 17th win of the season.
A Missouri Mavericks regulation loss on Saturday night would clinch a playoff spot for the Steelheads, their 20th berth in 20 seasons. The Mavericks played host to the Wichita Thunder.
The Steelheads finished their season-series with the Nailers taking four of the six meetings. They now return home for their final three-game home stand of the season at CenturyLink Arena against the Colorado Eagles, who have already clinched a playoff spot. Puck-drop on Wednesday is scheduled for 7:10pm MT with the game available on 1350AM KTIK, Cable One, and on ECHLTV.
STEELHEADS STATS:
Goals: Merchant (20); Dahl (20); Nugent (10); Luciani (29)
Landon Bow: 23 saves on 24 shots
Power Play: 1-for-2
Penalty Kill: 3-for-3
CENTURYLINK THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Jefferson Dahl IDH
2. Landon Bow IDH
3. Doug Carr WHL
COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
Jefferson Dahl: Game-winning goal, assist, 2 shots, plus-1 rating
PLAY OF THE GAME:
The forecheck work of Jefferson Dahl and Rob Linsmayer directly set up the Steelheads first two goals, but Dahl had to employ some marksmanship to put the Steelheads in front late in the third. Dahl fed Linsmayer from behind the goal line only to see the shot blocked back to him behind the net. Dahl opted the second time to walk it to the corner himself, barely above the end line when he snapped a wrister over Carr's shoulder to put the Steelheads in front and secure his second consecutive 20-goal season.
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