
Stockton Survives Late Steelhead Charge
February 18, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
(Stockton, CA) - Cody Purves' backhander from the slot fluttered just over the crossbar inside the final 20 seconds of regulation as the Stockton Thunder survived a comeback bid from the Idaho Steelheads, 3-2, Friday night at the Stockton Arena.
With the win, Stockton (24-21-5, 53 points) leap-frogged over Idaho (23-23-6, 52 points) into fifth place in the ECHL's Western Conference standings. Utah defeated Las Vegas to move to 49 points, just three points behind the Steelheads as four points separates fifth and seventh place in the Western Conference.
Stockton netted two first-period, power-play goals to take a 2-0 lead. First, it was Matt Foy to Ryan Lowery, then it was Ryan Lowery to Matt Foy as the Thunder out-shot Idaho, 19-1 in the opening frame. In the final seconds of the period, Purves brought his team to life with a spirited fight with Stockton enforcer Garet Hunt. The scrap ended with Hunt on his back and the Steelhead bench alive.
At 6:36 of the second period, Idaho got on the board when Patrick Kennedy redirected a Cody Purves attempt past Thomas Heemskerk for his sixth of the season. Kennedy's sixth of the season cut Stockton's lead to 2-1. The Thunder would re-establish the two-goal lead with less than thirty seconds to play in the second period on a Ryan Martindale goal, redemption for Martindale who was robbed on a highlight-reel pad save by Idaho's Jerry Kuhn just minutes earlier.
Idaho crept closer in the third period on a nice 3-on-2 conversion. Ian Lowe carried the puck into the offensive zone and delivered a pass to Kennedy in the middle of the ice. Kennedy then touched a pass to Aaron Lewicki in the right-hand circle and Lewicki blasted a shot over the blocker of Heemskerk to get Idaho to within a goal, 3-2, at the 11:06 mark.
The Steelheads would have chances over the final ten minutes as they put good pressure on the Stockton net, but could not get the equalizer as the Thunder held on once Purves' final shot carried over the top of the Stockton net.
Kuhn was strong in net for Idaho, stopping 35 of 38 shots in the loss. Heemskerk made 18 saves on 20 shots for Stockton. The Thunder went 2-5 on the power play while Idaho converted on one of four chances with the man advantage.
Idaho will travel overnight via bus for games Saturday and Sunday against the Ontario Reign. Saturday night's game begins at 7 PM (Mtn) with Sunday's game getting underway at 6 PM. Both games can be heard on KTIK (1350 AM) in the Treasure Valley.
The Steelheads return home on February 22 to host the Utah Grizzlies in Boise. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office (208.331.TIXS) or by logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com.
ECHL Stories from February 18, 2012
- Special Teams Doom Express in 7-3 Loss to Cincinnati - Chicago Express
- Reign Outlast Steelheads, 3-2 - Ontario Reign
- Another Late Idaho Rally Comes up Just Short - Idaho Steelheads
- Royals' Power of Pink Shuts Down Wheeling, 4-0 - Reading Royals
- Cyclones Steamroll Express, 7-3 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Kalamazoo Loses 4-3 in a Shootout to Cincinnati - Kalamazoo Wings
- Berube, Bohmbach, Phillips Fuel Titans' Rout of Jackals - Trenton Titans
- Glads Battle Back for 4-3 Shootout Win - Atlanta Gladiators
- Titans Rout Jackals, 8-1 - Elmira Jackals
- Nailers' Nine-Game Point Streak Ends in Reading - Wheeling Nailers
- Everblades Slip Past Stingrays in Overtime - South Carolina Stingrays
- Campbell Loaned to AHL's Stars - Las Vegas Wranglers
- ECHL Transactions - February 18 - ECHL
- Stretch Called up to Houston Again - Ontario Reign
- Cyclones Make Flurry of Roster Moves - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Colorado Eagles - Stockton Thunder
- Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati at Chicago - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Jackals Game Preview: Elmira Vs. Trenton - Elmira Jackals
- Countdown to Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Gill Heads to Bridgeport - Kalamazoo Wings
- Game Preview: Express Vs. Cincinnati Tonight - Chicago Express
- Express Add Ryley Grantham to the Roster - Chicago Express
- Glads Acquire Burrows from Chicago - Atlanta Gladiators
- Hamilton Returns Lenes to Nailers - Wheeling Nailers
- Stingrays Gameday: Stingrays Wrap up Road Trip Tonight - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - February 18 - ECHL
- Keetley, Condors Hold off Aces 4-1 - Alaska Aces
- Thunder sinks Idaho - Stockton Thunder
- Keetley Stops 49 as Condors Win Fourth Straight, 4-1 - Bakersfield Condors
- Reign Kill Eagles' Win Streak, 4-3 - Ontario Reign
- Stockton Survives Late Steelhead Charge - Idaho Steelheads
- Grizzlies Take Game One 4-3 from Wranglers - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Grizzlies Rally to Beat Las Vegas 4-3 - Utah Grizzlies
- Eagles' Winning Streak Ends as Comeback Falls Short - Colorado Eagles
- Kalamazoo Defeats Cincinnati 5-4 in a Shootout - Kalamazoo Wings
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