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ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Top Line continues to roll as Steelheads freeze Ice Dogs 5-3

March 2, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Long Beach, CA - A five-goal lead after 40 minutes of play proved to be enough as the Steelheads held on for a 5-3 win over the Long Beach Ice Dogs in front of 1,933 fans at Long Beach Arena on Friday night.

The Steelheads' (31-18-2-3) top forward trio of Marty Flichel (2g), Lance Galbraith (4a) and Derek Nesbitt (2a) combined for eight points, as the club extended its unbeaten streak to a season-best, nine games (7-0-0-2). It's also the team's 16th win away from home this season and their 13th against Pacific Division opponents. The Ice Dogs (20-31-0-3), who entered the night six points out of the final playoff spot in the National Conference are now winless in two matches versus the Steelheads.

The Steelheads tallied the game's first goal just 1:57 into the first period off a snap shot by defenseman Kyle Peto. Peto's seventh of the year beat Ice Dogs' goaltender Brett Jaeger (0 saves) off a chance from the top of the left circles, as Nesbitt and Galbraith snagged the assists.

At the 3:00 mark, the Steelheads struck again on Scott Burt's 10th of the season and his seventh point in the last seven contests. After defenseman Travis Wight pushed the puck free for Taggart Desmet, Burt received Desmet's offering along the left wing boards and beat an Ice Dogs' defenseman before slipping a backhander through the five-hole of Jaeger. The early 2-0 lead for the Steelheads signaled the end of Jaeger's night, as the Steelheads scored on their first two shots of the evening.

Late in the opening stanza, the Steelheads power play connected on its first opportunity of the match, with Flichel netting his team-leading 30th of the year. Galbraith and defenseman Darrell Hay set up Flichel's one-timer from the high slot that beat Jaeger's replacement, Mike Brown (27 saves), past his blocker and inside the left post.

Despite registering only eight shots in the first period, the Steelheads led 3-0.

Early in the second stanza, winger Jeremy Yablonski put the Steelheads in front by four, cashing in off a nifty passing play at the 2:59 mark. Rookie Charlie Johnson fed the puck down low to Galbraith who faked a shot before sliding the puck out to the top of the crease, where Yablonski slammed home his third of the campaign, which turned out to be the eventual game-winner.

Flichel then hammered home his second of the contest, and 31st of the year at 15:34 to give the Steelheads a 5-0 cushion heading into the second intermission. Galbraith and Nesbitt set up the power play marker.

After two periods, the shots favored the Steelheads 21-8.

The Ice Dogs rattled off three tallies in a 4:18 span midway through the third period to make things interesting, but the Steelheads eventually held on for the 5-3 victory. Mark Hurtubise and Ash Goldie netted power play goals for the home team, while Bo Cheesman beat Steelheads' goaltender Steve Silverthorn (17 saves) with a wrist shot from the right wing boards for an even-strength tally.

The final shots were 32-20 in favor of the Steelheads, as both teams ended two-for-five on the power play. Silverthorn, who was making his 16th straight start, now leads the ECHL with 27 wins. Brown suffers the loss for the Ice Dogs, dropping him to 11-17-0-2.

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