ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Win Seesaw Battle, 5-3 Over Aces

January 19, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID - Aaron Gagnon and Marty Flichel each picked up one goal and one assist as the Steelheads scored four times in the third period to erase two, one-goal deficits and topple the Aces 5-3 in front of a sold out crowd of 5,384 fans at Qwest Arena on Friday night.

With their fifth win in the last six games the Steelheads (20-12-7) now stand four points ahead of the Aces (19-12-5) in the West Division and National Conference standings.

After a scoreless first period, the Steelheads broke the deadlock when John Lammers carried the puck down the right wing shot and fired a shot just inside the far post and past Aces' goaltender Derek Gustafson (28 saves) at the 13:46 mark . Marty Flichel got the only assist, his 10th in the last 11 games.

Late in the frame the Aces struck for two power play goals to take a 2-1 lead heading into the third period. First, it was Matt Robinson from Josh Soares at 17:16 and then with four seconds left in the period Kimbi Daniels took a Soares offering and slammed the puck past Steelheads' goaltender Matt Zaba (23 saves). Bo Cheesman collected the second assist on Daniels' 13th of the campaign.

Early in the third period the Steelheads tied the game on a power play goal by Aaron Gagnon, his sixth in just 15 games with the Steelheads. Darrell Hay earned a helper, his third assist in his last two games, while Zaba also got an assist.

However, the Aces responded again, as Eric Neilson batted home a rebound off a shot by Vladimir Novak. Tim Spencer also picked up an assist on the marker at 9:34 which put the visitors in front 3-2.

Flichel pulled the Steelheads even once more, scoring for the first time in 10 games when he grabbed T.J. McElroy's errant right point shot and stuffed the puck past Gustafson. Lance Galbraith also assisted on the tally to increase his team-leading point total to 37.

Just 31 seconds after Flichel tied the match at three, Mike Sullivan cleaned up the rebound off Greg Rallo's shot to give the Steelheads a 4-3 advantage. Sullivan's ninth of the season and his third game-winner was also set up by Gagnon.

Taggart Desmet added some insurance for the Steelheads with a snap shot from outside the crease that rifled into the top shelf for his 15th of the season at 17:13 of the third. Colin Sinclair and Matt Craig drew the assists.

The final shots favored the Steelheads 33-26, as the club improved to 12-5-5 on home ice and 16-1-4 when scoring first. There were nine combined power plays, with the Steelheads going one-for-two and the Aces went two-for-seven. Zaba, in his first start with the Steelheads, improved his record to 4-4-1, while Gustafson dropped to 10-9-4.

The Steelheads wrap up their two-game set with the Aces on Saturday, January 19. The puck drops at 7:10 p.m. MST. All the action can be heard live on 1350 AM, KTIK "The Ticket" or via the B2 Networks. Don't forget, Steelheads' single-game tickets can be purchased via www.idahosteelheads.com (using the print-at-home feature), by calling 331-TIXS or from the Qwest Arena box office.

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ECHL Stories from January 19, 2008


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